Synonyms of overwhelm

overwhelm

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm 

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

• overcome
• devastate
• crush
• oppress
• overpower
• disturb
• drown
• grind (down)
• swamp
• floor
• whelm
• upset
• rock
• prostrate
• shatter
• overmaster
• defeat
• snow under
• distress
• sink
• throw
• refute
• deluge
• stagger
• demoralize
• unnerve
• break
• confute
• unman

2

as in to engulf

to cover with a flood

that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

• engulf
• flood
• drown
• inundate
• submerge
• overflow
• overcome
• gulf
• swamp
• deluge
• flush
• smother
• submerse
• flow
• overrun
• wet
• avalanche
• stream
• gush
• spurt
• pour
• drench
• soak
• douse
• sluice
• spout

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drain
• dry
• dehydrate
• parch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of overwhelm

In that sense, these figures are best viewed not as perfectly precise scores, but as reminders of how quickly forces of nature can overwhelm entire societies. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

By the end, the clasp, which incorporates a personal poem, looms large in comparison, representing the virus overwhelming the community. — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Perhaps this saga of planetary conquest is also a sly commentary on Hollywood imperialism, in which even the most far-flung of small-town tales must be overwhelmed by big-name stars in visual-effects drag. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

The scale of the disaster has proved challenging for authorities, with morgues overwhelmed by a large number of unidentified remains. — Andrew Jones, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026

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