overwhelming 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of overwhelmingnext
1
as in overpowering

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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
Ethiopia depends on Djibouti for the overwhelming majority of its maritime commerce, including fuel imports. — Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026 That’s been overwhelming in a good way, with some really good projects coming out of Norway. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
Multiple cities in Broward County reported rain overwhelming their sewage systems. — Alex Harris updated September 23, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 Through infrastructure developments, sustainable tourism regulation, and native stewardship, Greenland plans to double its visitor numbers by 2035—without overwhelming its people and natural resources. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 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
  • Beyond coffee, Gottsman said candidates should avoid other distractions or unprofessional impressions by putting away their phones, skipping overpowering fragrances, removing sunglasses from the tops of their heads and avoiding chewing gum.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Since the inception of Puffy, Combs has been the overpowering narrator of his own story, masterful at marketing himself as whatever shiny new version of himself he’s decided to be.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 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
  • Scientists have discovered the staggering loss of more than half a million chinstrap penguins from the isolated outcrop.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The Baltic Exchange reported the staggering numbers as attacks on tankers rose across multiple theaters of war.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • The region has already been saturated by heavy rain over the past months, and regions like New Mexico and Grand Canyon were hit by devastating floods earlier this month.
    — Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Military force has imposed enormous costs on both Hamas and Iran, devastating their military facilities and killing their commanders.
    — NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • The central lounge is designed like a cenote, with sunlight flooding in through a huge opening in the dome, which hits different sunbeds throughout the day.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Eastern Africa can be susceptible to flooding during an El Niño, drowning cereal crops there, while southern Africa is drought-prone.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flooding
Adjective
  • What made the opportunity irresistible is the moment and the people.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The combination of novel communications challenges and a potentially life-changing payout would seem to be an irresistible set-up for any number of crisis and communications professionals at the top of their game.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of irresistible
Adjective
  • With a team that has a margin of error as small as the Dolphins, these penalties are unacceptable.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Likewise, the underlying crisis of commercially unacceptable risk in the Strait isn’t anywhere close to being resolved.
    — David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • McLean has built on his stupendous 2025 late-season cameo by making every start and consistently delivering quality outings.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Afternoon tea is likely to ease effortlessly into cocktails in the stupendous Palm Court.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of stupendous

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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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