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overwhelm

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm How to pronounce overwhelm (audio)
Definition of overwhelmnext
1
as in to overcome
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to engulf
to cover with a flood that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overwhelm Parents feared vaccines could overwhelm their children’s immune system or increase risk of complications. — Jennifer Reich, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026 Several on the ground said they were overwhelmed by the support coming from first responders and fellow reporters. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Parravani recommends streamlining your selections in terms of both quantity and size in order to create a furniture scheme that does not overwhelm your space. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 16 Sep. 2026 Their sleek silhouette and tapered toe boxes won’t overwhelm outfits, and instead, have a leg-lengthening effect when paired with skinny jeans (in true millennial fashion) or straight-leg pants. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
  1. overcome
  2. engulf
  3. devastate
  4. flood
  5. crush
  6. drown
Verb
  • Social and playful 694 faces Katmai Brady Bunch member 620, while two bears that overcame incredible odds, 610 and 89 (Backpack), vie for votes in the other first round fight.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
  • At a meeting of the group's board, the governors unveiled a 66-project blueprint to get things started while acknowledging enormous hurdles that must still be overcome.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • The timing of her return surely coincides with the circumstances surrounding her near death and the grim mysteries that have engulfed the slow horses.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Milestones evoking 2007 tend to make investors squeamish, conjuring up unpleasant memories of the financial crisis that engulfed global markets in 2008.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of engulf
Verb
  • The horrors for women and girls are prevalent everywhere, Theron said, but her native South Africa is particularly devastated by it.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Florida citrus growers are planting trees with gene-editing technology to combat the deadly citrus greening disease that has devastated many of their crops.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastate
Verb
  • The policy is making the British glass industry more expensive than the cheap imports from China and Turkey which are flooding the market.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The announcement came almost a week after parts of Connecticut experienced flash flooding on Sunday, which dropped more than 7 inches of rain over a short period of time on the shoreline and left many roads flooded.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of flood
Verb
  • After studying the scouting report on the reliever during a pitching change, Jones got a hold of one and crushed a 423-foot, three-run blast in Tuesday’s win.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Corporate political spending is already crushing records this election cycle.
    — Sarah Pray, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • His daughter's husband, who drank heavily, toppled off his boat and drowned.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Parts of Orange County, still a vast agricultural Eden, were drowned.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of drown

Browse Nearby Words

overweights
overwhelm
overwhelmed
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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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