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
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
Thursday’s attack on Moscow – the biggest since the start of the full-scale war – was yet another example of how Ukraine’s strategy to overwhelm Russian air defenses with drones appears to have found success.
—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
In these cases, heavy-duty chemical cleaners can overwhelm a fabric, leaving stains of their own, while gentle dish soap can produce excessive suds without eliminating the substance.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Knicks fans nearly overwhelmed it before the floats arrived.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
The bold geometric pattern on Baina’s pool towels feels graphic without overwhelming the eye.
—
Nina Derwin,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
In these cases, heavy-duty chemical cleaners can overwhelm a fabric, leaving stains of their own, while gentle dish soap can produce excessive suds without eliminating the substance.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Knicks fans nearly overwhelmed it before the floats arrived.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
The bold geometric pattern on Baina’s pool towels feels graphic without overwhelming the eye.
—
Nina Derwin,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
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Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
Verb
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Westeros will be engulfed in flames as the Dance of the Dragons sweeps away knights riding their mighty creatures and entire armies.
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The sun itself will undergo this transformation in around 5 billion years, swelling out to around the orbit of Mars and engulfing the inner rocky planets, including Earth.
Verb
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At the same time, agriculture is one of the sectors most threatened by climate change, with rising temperatures set to devastate food crops around the world.
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Our entire family is devastated by this great loss.
Verb
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Craciun urged folks to flood the committee and Petrie-Norris’ office with calls and letters demanding action.
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People flooded the comment section with offers to help.
Verb
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After Mexico suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to Sweden, their hopes of advancing hinged on South Korea’s team pulling off an unlikely victory over Germany.
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Suddenly, a driver is faced with the possibility of being crushed by a mammal the size of a grand piano—and its massive antlers.
Verb
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As Vermax struggles to stay above water and begins to drown, Jace frees himself from his mount and reaches the surface.
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French media reported that four children drowned Saturday.
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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