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
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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
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Examples of overwhelm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Lebanese government, which even in peacetime can’t be relied on to provide basics, such as electricity and water, has been overwhelmed.
—
Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
But just a short 10- to 20-mile jaunt north and storm surge will overwhelm the densely populated area.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024
An attack with a majority of the 3,000 ballistic missiles in the Iranian inventory would overwhelm Israeli air defenses; the country’s hospitals would be flooded with the wounded.
—James Stavridis, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
Soaring theft and violent competition for scarce food and resources amid the Israeli blockade have overwhelmed the few police officers who try to do something about it.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm 
Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
But just a short 10- to 20-mile jaunt north and storm surge will overwhelm the densely populated area.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024
An attack with a majority of the 3,000 ballistic missiles in the Iranian inventory would overwhelm Israeli air defenses; the country’s hospitals would be flooded with the wounded.
—James Stavridis, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
Soaring theft and violent competition for scarce food and resources amid the Israeli blockade have overwhelmed the few police officers who try to do something about it.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overwhelm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
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