1
as in devastated
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 flooded
to cover with a flood
that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bewildered
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of overwhelmed
Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
Meanwhile, immigration courts are overwhelmed, with a backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
—Billal Rahman
dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Campbell’s song archives are overflowing, which sometimes overwhelmed even Petty.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelmed
Verb
In the weeks following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the City of Bradenton spilled millions of gallons of sewage into the Manatee River after the wastewater systems became overwhelmed.
—Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
Meanwhile, immigration courts are overwhelmed, with a backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
—Billal Rahman
dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Adjective
Don’t get overwhelmed by the excitement.
—Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Campbell’s song archives are overflowing, which sometimes overwhelmed even Petty.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelmed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelmed
Verb
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While Walking to School Bus Stop Jordan’s dad, who wasn’t in the vehicle, is devastated.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Lewis witnessed school closures that critics said devastated the South and West sides.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Analytics and technology have flooded the sport.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
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Their main food source vanished after decades of pollution flooded the Lagoon — and the species’ most important home on the East Coast turned into a graveyard.—
Bethany Barnes,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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A couple was left bewildered after discovering an unfamiliar cat helping itself to their own pet's food in a now-viral TikTok video that has left viewers on the platform in hysterics.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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Officials in other places that had voted overwhelmingly for President Trump but were far from the front lines of the immigration debate were simply bewildered.—
Campbell Robertson,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The runoff election marks yet another chapter in the country's struggle against a surge of violent crime that has engulfed cities in a country that was once a popular tourist destination and was left badly scarred by the pandemic.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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When first responders arrived on the scene, both the plane and a vehicle were already fully engulfed in flames, which have since been extinguished, TMZ reported.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The energy in this race came from ordinary voters, many of whom feel that their voices have been drowned out by corporate donations, union influence, and political machines.—
Amy Reichert,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2025
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The noise has drowned out Africa’s challenges, which center on job creation and climate change.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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When Anisimova lost the Queen’s final last month to 37-year-old Tatyana Maria, she was totally bemused by the German’s cat and mouse tactics.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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When things go wrong — such as the morning when a technical glitch with the PA system radio frequency led to a funeral service from a nearby church being broadcast to a bemused cricket crowd — what elsewhere might be regarded as irritations become charming idiosyncrasies.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Some people are surprised that King Charles, who is known for his environmental activism, would oversee the discontinuation of the train in favor of less sustainable options like helicopters.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
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Świątek may be surprised to be here, but Anisimova must be in total shock.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelmed. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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