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
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
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Recent Examples of overwhelming
Sophie Williams, Billboard, 24 Feb. 2026
The overwhelming feeling seemed not to be joy, but rather relief that the great Japanese hope hadn’t lost yet again.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Craig Lebrau, Freep.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Minimalism allows the wood to speak, instead of overwhelming it.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Adjective
Speaking about the decision to expand into Czechia, Yungblud pointed to the overwhelming reception from fans during a previous performance there.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 24 Feb. 2026
The overwhelming feeling seemed not to be joy, but rather relief that the great Japanese hope hadn’t lost yet again.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Couples can point guests to travel guidance, hotel suggestions, or a preliminary wedding website without overwhelming them upfront.
—Craig Lebrau, Freep.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Minimalism allows the wood to speak, instead of overwhelming it.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
Adjective
-
The layers have the texture of a pound cake and aren't too sweet or overpowering.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Aroldis Chapman has always been regarded as one of the most overpowering pitchers to ever set foot on a baseball diamond, but command hasn’t always been his calling card.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Soaring housing costs The Valley’s astronomically high housing costs are yet another indicator of the region’s staggering economic inequality.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Tesla shareholders last year approved a staggering $1 trillion pay package for CEO Elon Musk, placing him on track to become the first trillionaire ever.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Los Angeles County district attorney is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for its actions in last year’s devastating Eaton wildfire, which killed 19 people and left thousands of families homeless, the company said Wednesday.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The calls and texts came flooding in when Denver’s plan to sign him was reported.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Hochul also warned that there could be flooding in coastal areas.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Colored Pouch What’s bright, irresistible, and impossible to play favorites with?—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
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For expert skiers, Arapahoe Basin’s East Wall is an irresistible swath of terrain riven by steep chutes and couloirs, all of it requiring hiking to access.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Broadcasting a racial slur is completely unacceptable and harmful.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Japan formally protested the measures as absolutely unacceptable, calling them violations of international trade practice and demanding their immediate removal.—
Simina Mistreanu,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 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
Verb
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The rehabilitation itself will be expensive, and its success will depend on wooing private investors and overcoming a half-decade of adverse publicity.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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His Ducks rallied to beat two-time defending conference champion Edmonton in their return from the Olympic break, overcoming a pair of two-goal deficits and another one-goal deficit during their frenetic four-goal third period.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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