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
Relevance
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
Under Smart, the goal has always been to overwhelm teams with talent.
—
Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
But by the end of April, the deal was scrapped as fans overwhelmed Panera.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Now’s your chance to snag a deal on this plush pouf that supplies extra seating but won’t overwhelm smaller spaces.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 May 2026
The drape looks fluid without overwhelming my petite proportions, and the drawstring waist promises a customizable fit.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
But by the end of April, the deal was scrapped as fans overwhelmed Panera.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Now’s your chance to snag a deal on this plush pouf that supplies extra seating but won’t overwhelm smaller spaces.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 May 2026
The drape looks fluid without overwhelming my petite proportions, and the drawstring waist promises a customizable fit.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
-
Detroit allowed Cleveland to sprint to a 22-0 run to start the second half that took the Cavaliers from a four-point halftime deficit to an 18-point lead the Pistons were never able to overcome.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
To overcome this, researchers at ETH Zurich used a subtler effect called the geometric phase, which exploits the path taken by atoms through an artificial ‘crystal of light’ built from intersecting laser beams.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Last fall, in the aftermath of both events, the two appeared on each other’s shows, using the opportunities to reflect on the chaos engulfing late-night TV.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
-
The Venice Biennale, the world’s most prestigious international art exhibition, is engulfed in controversy this year.—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The deadly fires that devastated homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena also laid waste to a lush canopy of leaves and pine needles that had cooled and shaded residents here for generations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Such local weather events have devastated rural communities in recent years.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Billions of dollars in private investment and federal dollars have flooded into the area in recent years, but many local businesses still express concerns about a lagging regional economy.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Celebrations are sure to continue late into the night in Catalonia, and players and coaching staff flooded the pitch at the final whistle.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Akiira’Ley Vazquez went the distance while striking out 11 as well as crushing two home runs and driving in four as Greater New Bedford topped Old Rochester 10-2 in South Coast Conference action.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
-
Our restaurant teams have been absolutely crushed in the best possible way, working around the clock to keep up with the response, the lines, and the wave after wave of Royals fans showing up hungry.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
His growing sense of isolation reverses when a stranger saves him from drowning.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
Angela Onduto, 47, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the 2009 drowning death of her own daughter, posthumously named Matea Esperanza by the police agency that investigated her.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
