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
Relevance
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
1
as in overpowering
Related Words
2
as in crushing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in staggering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of overwhelming
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Piere-Olivier Joseph Despite some quiet performances in preseason action, veteran puck mover Pierre-Olivier Joseph is an overwhelming favourite to make this team and open the year as Vancouver’s seventh defenceman.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
As experts, the members of Forbes Business Council have experience implementing customer service best practices without exceeding their budget or overwhelming their team.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Verb
Welcoming a newborn into a home with other children can be overwhelming, but one mom’s 3-year-old quickly put her at ease, assuring her that everything would be OK.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Piere-Olivier Joseph Despite some quiet performances in preseason action, veteran puck mover Pierre-Olivier Joseph is an overwhelming favourite to make this team and open the year as Vancouver’s seventh defenceman.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The mid-rise fit and exaggerated flare feel straight out of the ’70s, but the cut is modern enough to flatter curves without overwhelming your frame.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
As experts, the members of Forbes Business Council have experience implementing customer service best practices without exceeding their budget or overwhelming their team.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
Verb
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Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Oil was discovered there in the 1920s, and the county went through booms and busts for decades, enriching wildcatters and devastating the landscape, until a lasting bust left Loving County a virtual wasteland with no running water, paved roads, schools, hospitals, or grocery stores.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The president responded by calling a special session and flooding the assembly with armed troops.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Altman himself has cautioned that too much money is flooding into unproven AI ventures, while Zuckerberg has compared today’s infrastructure frenzy to past bubbles.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Etzel scored later on a wild pitch — but Tolle retired 15 straight batters after the leadoff hit to conclude his latest overpowering outing.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
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While Skenes made his MLB debut last year after only 12 overpowering minor-league starts, Waldrep was merely mortal in 46 outings in the Braves’ farm system.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike the staggering, shiny corporate towers of Manhattan and Brickell, the 180,000 square-foot T3 building is largely made of timber, which adds to the project’s sustainability, Kennedy said.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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In 2018, the fashion designer dressed a staggering 17 celebrities at the Oscars, in addition to 10 stars at the Golden Globes and three at the SAG Awards the same year.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Marc Marquez says his latest MotoGP championship win carries a weight that goes beyond his statistics, describing it as the culmination of years spent overcoming injury, self-doubt and an inner battle to continue.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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In 2024, the Hurricanes started 9-0, including overcoming double-digit deficits against Virginia Tech, California and Duke in the early portion of its conference schedule.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The inferno moved rapidly, quickly engulfing the chapel – with an unknown number of people still inside.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Macrophages, immune cells that live in our tissues, are responsible for engulfing and digesting bacteria, dead and damaged cells, and harmful invaders like cancer cells.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The entire cast is irresistible, though.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
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Across from Pop’s Patties, Coco Bred offers another irresistible bite—a soft and slightly sweet coco bread with a topping of your choice.—
Marc Williams,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Afterwards, there were some situations that were completely unacceptable.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Sep. 2025
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This type of behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sportsmanship, respect, and integrity that Kalamazoo Public Schools expects from student-athletes, coaches, and the entire school community.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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