whelming

verb

present participle of whelm
as in overwhelming
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelming
  1. overwhelming
  2. devastating
  3. overcoming
Verb
  • Animal figurines, old postcards, miniature sculptures and other unexpected objects can add personality without overwhelming a room.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
  • The natural wood grain and streamlined proportions give it enough presence to anchor an entryway without overwhelming the surrounding decor.
    — Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • The developments come at a challenging time for Sánchez, whose government has been consumed by the response to wildfires that have been devastating the country, including some of the largest on record.
    — Miguel Macias, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Examples of devastating grass fires include Los Angeles in 2025 and Hawaii in 2023.
    — Seth Borenstein, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • The biggest event in the sporting calendar drew to a close at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Spain were crowned world champions for the second time, overcoming Argentina in one of the most dominant finals in recent memory.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness, is crucial to overcoming it.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of overcoming
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Whelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelming. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whelming

Nglish: Translation of whelming for Spanish Speakers

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