1
as in overcomes
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in engulfs
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 overwhelms
The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.
—
Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
Demand overwhelms supply, and thousands die each year before one becomes available.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
No one can resist a timeless game-night staple like Candy Land that keeps kids entertained and overwhelms adults with nostalgia.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
There are too many universes where San Francisco overwhelms an inferior team.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
This overwhelms staff trying to prioritize who to care for first and often means there are not enough hospital beds for sick patients.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
If a disaster overwhelms state and local capacity, officials may request a presidential declaration, the agency said.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Ultimately, that could prolong the lifespan of both drugs, and help countries avoid the kind of surge in deaths that's happened when resistance overwhelms existing tools.
—NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
Demand overwhelms supply, and thousands die each year before one becomes available.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
No one can resist a timeless game-night staple like Candy Land that keeps kids entertained and overwhelms adults with nostalgia.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
There are too many universes where San Francisco overwhelms an inferior team.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
This overwhelms staff trying to prioritize who to care for first and often means there are not enough hospital beds for sick patients.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
If a disaster overwhelms state and local capacity, officials may request a presidential declaration, the agency said.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Ultimately, that could prolong the lifespan of both drugs, and help countries avoid the kind of surge in deaths that's happened when resistance overwhelms existing tools.
—NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelms
Verb
-
Jacen overcomes his fear and plays music for others.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But even here, her sincerity overcomes her weakness for sentimental flourishes, including Amine Bouhafa’s treacly score.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Michael Winner’s gritty urban thriller starred Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, an everyman architect who becomes a vigilante after a brutal assault devastates his family.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The space, a former artist’s studio turned residence, opens directly onto the street and is crowned by a transom window that floods the interior with natural light.—
Nicolas Milon,
Architectural Digest,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The other will take the easy route, churning out generic content that floods the market but doesn’t resonate with customers.—
Sridhar Ramaswamy,
Fortune,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Baseus Noise-cancelling Headphones These noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for frequent travelers, delivering adaptive noise reduction that drowns out jet engine roar, crying babies, and chatty seatmates for peaceful flights or train rides.—
Gabriela Garcia,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Nov. 2025
-
About once a year, someone drowns.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelms. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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