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
The crowd overwhelmed the staff and trashed some of the furniture before the party was relocated to the White House lawn.
—
Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
In particular, city voters could be overwhelmed by being asked to dig deeper into their pockets after an array of fee increases — from trash collection to parking to use of recreational facilities — recently kicked in.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Yuba Water is coordinating with other agencies, including at the Oroville Dam, to prevent downstream waterways from being overwhelmed by releases.
—Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
In particular, city voters could be overwhelmed by being asked to dig deeper into their pockets after an array of fee increases — from trash collection to parking to use of recreational facilities — recently kicked in.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Yuba Water is coordinating with other agencies, including at the Oroville Dam, to prevent downstream waterways from being overwhelmed by releases.
—Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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Samsung says these structural improvements allow the HP5 to overcome traditional low-light limitations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Vance’s second biggest battle is overcoming political history, which statistically does not favor incumbent vice presidents’ chances of winning the White House.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the basement level before engulfing the upper floor.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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Almost exactly a year ago, another rock-era institution — the 111-year-old Morrison Hotel, featured on the cover of the Doors’ fifth studio album — was engulfed in flames after a series of smaller fires.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Group members want to see Bonta’s office take ownership of a review, as occurred in Hawaii after Maui’s devastating Lahaina fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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The regime’s regional proxies have been devastated.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The post was flooded with support from both fans and celebrities.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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Beijing will keep trying to export its way out, flooding global markets—an approach that most trading partners may absorb this year but won’t tolerate forever.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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How To Prep Blueberries Before Washing Before cleaning, spread fresh blueberries onto a plate or tray and sort through, discarding any moldy, shriveled, or crushed berries, along with stray stems or leaves.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
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But there’s something very useful about laying plain how easy this test should be for the leader of the free world, and how anyone who boasts about crushing it has, in many aspects, failed it in a brand-new way.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In June 2001, Andrea drowned all five of the Yates children before calling 911 and later confessing.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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Like the leaves, the roots need oxygen so too much water around them will effectively drown them.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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