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
While some people still use garlic mustard in salads, soups, and pesto, the plant can quickly overwhelm forests and crowd out native species.
—
Breana Pitts, CBS News, 11 June 2026
If someone is overwhelmed by the heat, swiftly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
But the heavy turnout also appeared to overwhelm the entry operation, creating bottlenecks at the gates and forcing security and event staff to slow the flow of fans into the building.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026
This metal bin is particularly useful for heavier toys like train tracks, magnetic tiles, and wooden blocks that can overwhelm softer fabric bins.
—Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Breana Pitts, CBS News, 11 June 2026
If someone is overwhelmed by the heat, swiftly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
But the heavy turnout also appeared to overwhelm the entry operation, creating bottlenecks at the gates and forcing security and event staff to slow the flow of fans into the building.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026
This metal bin is particularly useful for heavier toys like train tracks, magnetic tiles, and wooden blocks that can overwhelm softer fabric bins.
—Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the first and could not overcome the early deficit thanks to the efforts of OU starting pitcher Xander Mercurius’ 7 1/3 quality innings pitched.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
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Chasing atomic limits To overcome that challenge, the KAIST team relied on first-principles calculations, a computational approach that predicts material behavior using the laws of physics rather than experimental data.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The fire engulfed approximately 8,600 square feet of the cathedral’s roof before being extinguished by local firefighters.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 June 2026
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Emergency personnel learned from a caller that the plane was engulfed in flames and was in a field near the regional airport.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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.—
Jasmin Sykes,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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Our entire family is devastated by this great loss.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The shooting came hours after thousands of Knicks fans flooded streets across Manhattan to celebrate the franchise's first NBA title since 1973.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Jubilant Knicks fans flooded the streets of New York Saturday night, crowding into intersections and climbing light poles and buses, to celebrate the team’s first NBA championship win in more than 50 years.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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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.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Also keep in mind that blasting noise through your AirPods or speakers may drown out some very important other sounds — like approaching wildlife or mad rattlesnakes.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Skokie police said first responders began lifesaving measures at the scene, and the person who nearly drowned was stabilized at a local hospital.—
Dylan Olsen,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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