whelmed

verb

past tense of whelm
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress the news so whelmed them that they were stunned into silence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 whelmed Of all the underwhelming parts of this underwhelming finale of an underwhelming season, the final immunity challenge did not leave me whelmed. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025 As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. — Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelmed
  1. overwhelmed
  2. devastated
Verb
  • The awkward silence overwhelmed everyone until the major stepped in front of Helen.
    — Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Their campaigns emerged in the aftermath of Covid-19, when doctors and health officials were celebrated at first, overwhelmed by work and tragedy for years, and in some cases, targeted because of distrust or politics around their messages.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of overwhelmed
Verb
  • The elder Begay, speaking in Navajo, said she is emotionally devastated.
    — Adam Burke, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • By comparison, the prewar sanctions that devastated Iran’s economy, hobbled its military, and discouraged it from seeking nuclear weapons were a bargain.
    — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of devastated

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Cite this Entry

“Whelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelmed. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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