1
as in overpowering
Related Words
Relevance
2
as in crushing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in staggering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in devastating
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flooding
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 overwhelming
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The need for separate facilities ran headlong into the overwhelming demand for building materials to advance the war effort.
—Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Both of these will amplify that creamy base and give you amped up staying power without overwhelming the floral heart.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Adjective
Snook is excellent at playing tremulous and overwhelming feeling without ever seeming hammy or phony, and Marissa’s raw emotion anchors All Her Fault in something real even as the plot reveals grow increasingly (and enjoyably) outrageous.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The need for separate facilities ran headlong into the overwhelming demand for building materials to advance the war effort.
—Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The majority of active shelter licenses for transitional and rehabilitation homes in Jefferson County are located in the West End and around Old Louisville, frustrating residents who say the homes are overwhelming their neighborhoods.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Both of these will amplify that creamy base and give you amped up staying power without overwhelming the floral heart.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
Adjective
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Testers noted that the filling was strongly spiced which some liked, but was too overpowering for others and gave it an almost artificial taste that overwhelmed the crust.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Glade Plug-In Apple Cinnamon Refills, 5-Pack This fragrance is a little sweet, a little spicy, and 100 percent comforting — definitely not your typical overpowering air freshener.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The congratulatory messages from the two ex-presidents, who are among the Democratic Party’s most popular national figures, appear to be a signal mainstream Democratic heavyweights are warming up to Mamdani as the party continues to regroup following staggering losses nationally in 2024.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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In all three, Russian forces edged forward over several months at staggering human cost despite a resolute Ukrainian defense, according to figures released by Kyiv.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Last year’s devastating drought in the Amazon Basin was made 30 times more likely by climate change, according to a report from World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists that analyze extreme weather events.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this year, California’s devastating Eaton Fire destroyed much of Altadena, a diverse, creative community just north of Pasadena.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Theories range from the Edmund Fitzgerald striking a shoal and suffering bottom damage to flooding through the freighter's hatch covers, which filled the ship with water and sank it, to rogue waves, to structural flaws in the ship that the 1975 storm made deadly.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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Meanwhile, the safety net designed to financially protect homeowners from flooding sits frozen amid the government shutdown.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Like the vast, uncaring jungle in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the Tyranids are an irresistible force that seeks to surround and destroy humanity through the weight of pure biological necessity.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Known for their high-energy performances and irresistible grooves, April and the Funk Junkies have become a San Diego favorite, filling dance floors with their mix of funk, soul, pop, and rock classics.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hufanga deemed that first-quarter Jeanty touchdown unacceptable because any touchdown is unacceptable at this point to Denver’s defense.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Designed to survey a large portion of the entire sky over and over, more deeply and in a speedier fashion than ever before, its science goals are stupendous.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
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But Pullman’s abilities as a storyteller are stupendous, and on full display.—
Lev Grossman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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DiMarco’s participation became a highlight of the event, with the student asking thoughtful questions about overcoming imposter syndrome and handling rejection.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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And that religion, like music, can carry the sound of struggle – but also the hope of one day overcoming the injustices and inequalities of everyday life.—
Ken Chitwood,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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