overwhelming 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of overwhelmingnext
1
as in overpowering

Related Words

Relevance
2
as in crushing

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in staggering

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

overwhelming

2 of 2

verb

present participle of overwhelm
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overwhelming
Adjective
There are also plenty of cognitively overwhelming tasks military leaders must tackle in which AI could be of help by identifying patterns or challenging assumptions. — Emelia S. Probasco, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2026 Based on the overwhelming outpouring of love for Jackie, there was obviously a beautiful side to her fame, Seidman said. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rather than overwhelming your child with a long list of feelings, start with the basics. — Jenna Autuori-Dedic, Parents, 4 Aug. 2026 Could Cape Verde turn its sudden global fame into tourism that benefits the islands without overwhelming the places already under pressure? — Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
  1. overpowering
  2. crushing
  3. staggering
  4. devastating
  5. flooding
  6. irresistible
  7. unacceptable
  8. stupendous
Adjective
  • Feller was 23 years old, perhaps the most overpowering pitcher in baseball and entering the prime of a Hall of Fame career.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Durians' overpowering smell is fragrant to those who love it and foul to those who don't.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of overpowering
Adjective
  • And that makes his collapse all the more crushing.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Even the laughs and smiles that Joe and Kate Keller issue are fleeting, a respite from the journey toward a more crushing reality.
    — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Definition of crushing
Adjective
  • Then on August 10, a large container ship paid a staggering $4 million to fast-track its trip — leaving others, either unwilling or unable to shell out that kind of sum, in maritime limbo.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While the deficit has been huge for years, overall debt topped $40 trillion on Wednesday, a staggering record that arrived just months after the national debt first blew past the $39-trillion mark in April.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • The ceremony concluded a nearly 20-year struggle that profoundly shaped the latter decades of Caper’s life—a trial marked by devastating grief, institutional rejection, deteriorating health, and extraordinary perseverance.
    — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Major hurricanes can cause wind damage ranging from devastating to catastrophic and significant loss of life from their winds alone.
    — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • Kelly Howe The area around the Aspen Acres fire was also struck by flooding last month.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Tributes are flooding in for Hayden Panettiere, the Scream and Heroes star who died Sunday at 36.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of flooding
Adjective
  • The song’s bubbly instrumental proved irresistible to young content creators already inundated with Jay-Z content this summer.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Whether they’re built around apocalyptic beliefs, aliens, religion, or even romance, cults and the people who fall under their spell tend to make for irresistible subject matter.
    — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of irresistible
Adjective
  • Custard said, for the public, all this adds up to unacceptable risk.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But to build a web of accusations based on false premises and the manipulation of reality in order to attack the Biennale and a film invited to compete is a petty and unacceptable act.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Success, no matter how stupendous, harbors within it the seed of potential failure if taken for granted and not built upon.
    — Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Or better yet, plunk down on one of the three beaches and soak up the stupendous view.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
Definition of stupendous

Browse Nearby Words

overwhelmed
overwhelming
overwhelms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on overwhelming

Nglish: Translation of overwhelming for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All