overwhelming 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of overwhelmingnext
1
as in overpowering

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2
as in crushing

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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
Several days of this, Britton said, can cause neurons to become more sensitive, such that minor stimuli, like the ticking of a clock or the sound of another person’s breath, can start to feel overwhelming—as can emotions such as rage and grief. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 Together, the notes create a gourmand that feels light and fluffy rather than dense or saccharine—sweet, but never overwhelming. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
To channel this sense of joyful minimalism, pair a bold color with playful accents, rich textures, and meaningful décor that brings personality to the space without overwhelming it. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 The gatherings became too large to descend on small coffee shops without overwhelming them, prompting Pham to seek larger venues and partnerships. — Kansas City Star, 24 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
  • For the richest of the rich, this translates into staggering and rapid gains and losses in paper wealth, such as an $18 billion one-day drop for Elon Musk and $50 billion week-long plunge for Larry Ellison, according to Forbes.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The force of those that did land had more of an impact on him than his opponent – sending him staggering backwards into the ropes.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • The country is also recovering from devastating back-to-back earthquakes in June that have so far killed over 6,000 people.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Rescue operations and clean-up crews are still working in the wake of last week’s devastating debris avalanche and floods in Nepal and Tibet.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • The main threat from the storm is flooding rain, with up to 9 inches possible in some areas.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Milton, the second of which, tore all the Teflon panels off the Trop’s roof flooding the inside of the facility.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of flooding
Adjective
  • That job needed vivid descriptions that made each performance feel irresistible.
    — Connie Etemadi, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • However, the Junior Suite Prestige Loggia on the first floor looks out onto the private pool area, which reaches the glamour of Hotel Du Cap, with white umbrellas and loungers piped with aquamarine-like irresistible cupcakes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of irresistible
Adjective
  • That explanation, which was given to Quatraro on the field, clearly was unacceptable to the Royals manager.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Both noted that any sort of political violence is unacceptable.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • The memoirs were a stupendous best-seller, 10,000 door-to-door canvassers selling 325,000 two-volume sets in 1886, earning the general’s widow and children as much as $15 million in today’s dollars.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 7 Sep. 2026.

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