1
as in to overcome
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 to engulf
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
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
There’s a fresh willingness to prioritize character over the usual barrage of interchangeable CG action sequences that often overwhelm them, instead giving us relatable folks to invest in.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
Smoked Gouda adds creaminess and emphasizes the smokiness of the sausage without overwhelming your tastebuds.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 July 2025
While it would be overwhelmed by the tumult of the 1960s and the rise of The Beatles, her sound never went out of style with fans of her unapologetically romantic balladry.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Still, on a partly sunny Saturday under a flood watch, dozens of volunteers overwhelmed a site near the Round Mountain Baptist Church outside of Leander, forcing traffic to a standstill as emergency personnel actively searched for missing people.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
Smoked Gouda adds creaminess and emphasizes the smokiness of the sausage without overwhelming your tastebuds.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 July 2025
While it would be overwhelmed by the tumult of the 1960s and the rise of The Beatles, her sound never went out of style with fans of her unapologetically romantic balladry.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Still, on a partly sunny Saturday under a flood watch, dozens of volunteers overwhelmed a site near the Round Mountain Baptist Church outside of Leander, forcing traffic to a standstill as emergency personnel actively searched for missing people.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
-
Judicial confirmations were once a slower, more contentious process, often requiring 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
14 July 2025
-
For two decades, senior legislators and military leaders have been working, mostly without success, to overcome these problems.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
From the doorway, Beau could see floodwaters beginning to engulf cabins closer to the Guadalupe River, where the younger boys slept.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
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That was nothing compared to the aromas that engulfed me at the Generac stage July 4 for Porter Robinson’s stage-closing set.—
jsonline.com,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Today, disaster seekers pack tours through New Orleans neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Katrina two decades ago, and visitors continue to flock to Galveston to see the legacy of a hurricane that killed thousands more than a century earlier.—
Lila Hempel-Edgers
July 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 July 2025
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Not only has its air defense infrastructure suffered badly in the confrontations with Israel, but its regional proxies and allies – Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria – have either been devastated by Israel or collapsed altogether.—
Linggong Kong,
The Conversation,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Previous storms have flooded Mason’s building, damaging appliances and furniture, but this time she was mostly spared.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Thousands of comments flooded the platform owned by Trump.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
14 July 2025
Verb
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That’s the rivalry, contained in two points: the creativity and improvisational feel of Alcaraz; the crushing technical brilliance of Sinner.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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The biggest hole on the Phillies' roster is in the bullpen following Jose Alvarado's crushing suspension.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Each year, stories of people acting heroically to rescue others from the water turn tragic when the rescuers end up caught in the rip currents and drown.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
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Truckee police were searching Friday for a possible drowning victim in Donner Lake, said department officials.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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