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
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
Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Asian Americans have demonstrated overwhelming support for more educational measures to confront anti-Asian bias.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
But the key to getting this look just right is to take a thoughtful approach — blend classic elements of the style in a way that resonates with your everyday living, and add some retro flair (without overwhelming yourself or your space).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Adjective
At an Oscars where no other acting award seemed a sure thing, Buckley cruised into Sunday's Oscars at the Dolby Theatre as the overwhelming favorite.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Asian Americans have demonstrated overwhelming support for more educational measures to confront anti-Asian bias.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
These hues add personality, without overwhelming your home's façade.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
But the key to getting this look just right is to take a thoughtful approach — blend classic elements of the style in a way that resonates with your everyday living, and add some retro flair (without overwhelming yourself or your space).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
Adjective
-
Against Mexico, Skenes struck out seven across four overpowering innings.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most tasters appreciated that this spread had a nice taste and was not too sweet or overpowering.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
However, the Downtown Neighbors' Alliance receives a staggering number of daily complaints.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
At the Fortune CEOi dinner, a CEO in attendance escalated the alarm further, noting that the $39 trillion gross figure masks an even more staggering liability.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rain fell, devastating the snowpack.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
But by the early 1990s, industrial bottom trawlers had decimated cod stocks, and in 1992, the Canadian government instituted a moratorium on cod fishing, devastating the industry and ending a long-standing way of life.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The weight of vying for the prestigious award came flooding in all at once.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Money from artificial intelligence companies is flooding into the 2026 midterms.—
Dan Merica,
Washington Post,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite morale-sapping staff layoffs, bizarre executive orders and a 43-day federal government shutdown last fall, the grandeur and serenity of national parks in California remain irresistible to outdoors lovers looking to unwind.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Its coconut milk and warm-sand notes make for an irresistible combination, and when summer rolls around, the shimmery finish will give me a radiant, fresh-from-the-beach glow.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As an occasional problem, this would merit a Disapproving Frown — which, for the record, is one step up from a Cold Stare, one step down from a Glare, and at least one step down from yelling, which is unacceptable.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
That the tax sale system is unacceptable.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Rinko Kikuchi is stupendous as a ballroom-dancing widow infatuated with her instructor.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
To proceed more or less in order, renewables are now increasingly backstopped not by fossil fuels but by batteries, which have grown cheaper at a stupendous pace.—
Bill McKibben,
The New York Review of Books,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
