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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of overwhelms
Bold pink, yellow, and blue tile typically overwhelms a bathroom, dictates its overall color scheme, and limits decor choices.
—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
If 21st-century technology overwhelms our 18th-century institutions—if social media and AI destroy our capacity to think independently, evaluate facts, and recognize truth—Americans aren’t the only ones who will pay the price.
—
Jeffrey Rosen,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Wild scenes unfold as social media teen meetup overwhelms popular beach.
—
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
This high-corn composition lays the foundation for a sweet, approachable profile, while the modest rye content adds a measured spice that never overwhelms.
—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
While vulnerability discovery once required significant human effort, the company says advanced systems can now uncover flaws at a scale that overwhelms traditional patching workflows.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
This is the monthly observing window — when moonlight no longer overwhelms the fainter stars and the sky begins to reveal itself again.
—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Excess sugar overwhelms the kidneys, which flush it — along with hydrating fluids — out through urine, leaving people dehydrated and trapped in a cycle of thirst.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Excess sugar in the blood overwhelms the kidneys, which struggle to reabsorb glucose.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
If 21st-century technology overwhelms our 18th-century institutions—if social media and AI destroy our capacity to think independently, evaluate facts, and recognize truth—Americans aren’t the only ones who will pay the price.
—
Jeffrey Rosen,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Wild scenes unfold as social media teen meetup overwhelms popular beach.
—
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
This high-corn composition lays the foundation for a sweet, approachable profile, while the modest rye content adds a measured spice that never overwhelms.
—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
While vulnerability discovery once required significant human effort, the company says advanced systems can now uncover flaws at a scale that overwhelms traditional patching workflows.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
This is the monthly observing window — when moonlight no longer overwhelms the fainter stars and the sky begins to reveal itself again.
—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Excess sugar overwhelms the kidneys, which flush it — along with hydrating fluids — out through urine, leaving people dehydrated and trapped in a cycle of thirst.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Excess sugar in the blood overwhelms the kidneys, which struggle to reabsorb glucose.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelms
Verb
-
These families show that love overcomes differences.
-
As the realization that nothing—or no one—will be enough overcomes the final bridge, a flurry of drums gallop in and the track explodes into fireworks as Rodrigo screams her guts out.
Verb
-
This floods the market with a black box of undifferentiated output.
-
Melatonin floods the brain and body, telling each cell that night has come.
Verb
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So when the dog is lost in a severe storm that devastates the region and leaves many homeless, an overwhelmed Rose must balance the urgency of her search mission alongside the misfortune of others close to her.
-
Withholding effective treatment for chronic disease devastates lives and drives up healthcare costs.
Verb
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Drenching the nest and surrounding area with water drowns workers and possibly the queen, which disrupts the colony.
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The more militants are killed, the deeper the city drowns in militant Shia iconography.
Verb
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It is governed by a brutal regime that oppresses its people and is an enemy to the United States.
-
His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people.
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelms. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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