Synonyms of overwhelm

overwhelm

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm 

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

• overcome
• devastate
• crush
• oppress
• overpower
• disturb
• drown
• grind (down)
• swamp
• floor
• whelm
• upset
• rock
• prostrate
• shatter
• overmaster
• defeat
• snow under
• distress
• sink
• throw
• refute
• deluge
• stagger
• demoralize
• unnerve
• break
• confute
• unman

2

as in to engulf

to cover with a flood

that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

• engulf
• flood
• drown
• inundate
• submerge
• overflow
• overcome
• gulf
• swamp
• deluge
• flush
• smother
• submerse
• flow
• overrun
• wet
• avalanche
• stream
• gush
• spurt
• pour
• drench
• soak
• douse
• sluice
• spout

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drain
• dry
• dehydrate
• parch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of overwhelm

Officials tread carefully in regulating car caravans, which can overwhelm traffic and bring streets to a standstill. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

In one Ohio township, fire fighters reported being overwhelmed by the high volume of calls to two local data center campuses. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026

After more than 24,000 residents filed claims, the regional water authority denied all of them, arguing that extreme rainfall had overwhelmed the system and made flooding unavoidable. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026

College football’s perpetual punching bag for offensive woes overwhelmed Northern Illinois in every facet of a 40-0 victory, and that included a modest passing day from co-starters Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!