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
Herbivore’s new Tremella Silky Hydration Gel Cream is the perfect consistency for hot and humid days and will still give you a dewy glow—thanks to tremella mushrooms and squalane—without overwhelming your skin.
—
Kayla Greaves, Essence, 23 June 2025
If a rally starts earlier than 2:45 on Monday afternoon, it will be overwhelmed by sellers who are grateful for better prices.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Attendees were overwhelmed by the soaring temperatures at Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson fire chief Alex Alicea told the Bergen Record.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
Following the shooting, he was overwhelmed by funeral arrangements, communications with the police, the duty of informing friends and family, legal paperwork, and more.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Kayla Greaves, Essence, 23 June 2025
If a rally starts earlier than 2:45 on Monday afternoon, it will be overwhelmed by sellers who are grateful for better prices.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Attendees were overwhelmed by the soaring temperatures at Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson fire chief Alex Alicea told the Bergen Record.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
Following the shooting, he was overwhelmed by funeral arrangements, communications with the police, the duty of informing friends and family, legal paperwork, and more.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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There can be ways to overcome the objections of the people who are concerned that new technology will make their jobs obsolete.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
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Meanwhile, a college in the U.K. has now stepped up and started offering classes on making and taking phone calls to help Gen Z overcome this fear.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
4 July 2025
Verb
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More than one-third of Tuvalu’s population is seeking to move to Australia under a new climate visa program, as their own nation is at great risk of being engulfed by the sea.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
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By this point, Robbie is presumed dead, seemingly engulfed by a fireball after joining up with the military.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
Verb
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People were aware of the risk of fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and a 1923 magnitude 8 earthquake and firestorm that devastated Tokyo and Yokohama, causing an astonishing 142,800 deaths, according to the USGS.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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He’s been through adversity and grown stronger James’ drive to give back began during his freshman year at Tulane, when Hurricane Ida devastated New Orleans.—
Shane Connuck
June 26,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2025
Verb
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But two of the endeavor’s most compelling aspects are difficult to convey in any individual image, no matter how spectacular: the sheer amount of data Rubin will produce and the speed with which those data will flood into astronomers’ work.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
1 July 2025
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Friends and family flooded the comments with words of sympathy and cherished memories of Page.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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The Yankees dropped their sixth consecutive game Saturday, suffering a crushing 12-6 loss to the New York Mets.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
6 July 2025
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If the Heat move off Bam Adebayo, the defense will absorb a crushing blow, but that will come at a time when NBA offense has trumped NBA defense.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Verb
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In 2024, 34 kids with autism drowned in Florida — half of the national total.—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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Flash floods drowned portions of the state's Hill Country on the Fourth of July, spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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