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
Lincoln overwhelmed Fredericksburg in the first half Friday night in building a 20-point halftime lead and went on to win 77-49 before a crowd of 3,108 at the Alamodome to claim its second straight Class 4A Division II state title.
—
Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
But keeping up with that demand overwhelmed the company.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
But Scrubs builds the new cast members into each episode bit by bit, ceding a little more narrative ground to them with each episode rather than immediately overwhelming their caseload.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Amy Kuretsky, Nicole Amor's sister-in-law, told WCCO their family is overwhelmed by all of the love and support.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
But keeping up with that demand overwhelmed the company.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
But Scrubs builds the new cast members into each episode bit by bit, ceding a little more narrative ground to them with each episode rather than immediately overwhelming their caseload.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Amy Kuretsky, Nicole Amor's sister-in-law, told WCCO their family is overwhelmed by all of the love and support.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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The president's endorsement didn't clear the GOP crowded field to replace Greene — some observers cast that as a sign of weakness — but Fuller easily overcame other Republican contenders.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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Next, despite a close first half, Kansas State couldn’t overcome BYU and star freshman AJ Dybansta, falling to the Cougars 105-91 to finish off a disappointing season.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 40th District is one of several pivotal matchups across both parties involving two incumbents, a result of the redistricting war that engulfed Texas and California and is being explored in a handful of other states.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s capital was engulfed in a cloud of toxic smoke that unleashed black rainfall dozens of miles away on Sunday after overnight Israeli strikes on several fuel depots caused fires to burn for hours.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tens of thousands of giant sequoia seedlings and saplings are sprouting in a Sierra Nevada grove devastated by the 2021 KNP Complex fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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The youngest in a family of famous actors, Carradine had been devastated by the death in 2009 of his half-brother David Carradine in a Bangkok hotel room and never quite recovered, the actor admitted over the years.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Hall of Fame coach flooded the playbook with postups – many seeing Green throw the entry pass – against an undersized Oklahoma City front line.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Large hail, damaging winds, flooding rainfall and an elevated, non-zero threat for tornadoes will be possible.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The International Court of Justice is considering whether Israel's military operation in Gaza to crush Hamas amounts to genocide under a treaty drawn up after World War II.—
MOLLY QUELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Plant workers are also concerned about the recent death of 61-year-old Kevin Lancaster, a contractor who was crushed between a tractor trailer and a loading dock last week at a Rivian warehouse near the Normal factory.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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George Seda, the police boss in Nairobi, said Saturday that six people drowned and two others were electrocuted, warning that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
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When Christina drowns herself for a second time, Baron Frankenstein is confronted by the unpredictability of stitching together dead flesh—his female creation is capable of reckoning with her past suffering.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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