overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)wel-miŋ 

: tending or serving to overwhelm

overwhelming force

overwhelming evidence

also : extreme, great

overwhelming indifference

an overwhelming majority

Examples of overwhelming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With Unrivaled set to crown its first champion come Monday night, the league has been overwhelming success according to Collier, who helped co-found the league alongside fellow superstar Breanna Stewart. —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025

This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out. —ABC News, 16 Mar. 2025

In fact, there are lots of folks who benefit enormously from the use of headphones in public and even require them, namely those with sensory processing disorders or symptoms of PTSD, who might find public spaces (and the amount of audio stimuli that accompanies them) to be totally overwhelming. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025

During her speech at the event, Parton, 79, expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support she's received over the past couple of weeks. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈhwel-miŋ 

-wel-

: great sense 4, extreme

an overwhelming response

overwhelmingly adverb