overwhelmed

adjective

over·​whelmed ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welmd 

1

: overcome by force or numbers

Some jurisdictions are so overwhelmed that they are experimenting with routing school-children into specially designed courts that would keep first-time offenders from being saddled with an arrest record.

—Gary Fields and John R. Emshwiller

Only three Coast Guard rescue helicopters had managed to get into the air, and each was already overwhelmed by dozens of calls for help.

—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block

"We were overwhelmed," said John Robinson, the Rams' coach. "Clearly dominated."

—Paul Zimmerman

2

: completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling

When he first appeared in full regalia, I was overwhelmed.

—Jane Davison

Suddenly he felt overwhelmed by a wash of terror.

—Holly Black

He finds that the institutions that might compensate for what overwhelmed parents are unable to do are themselves undermined by stingy public policies.

—Lisbeth B. Schorr

Examples of overwhelmed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because most shelters in the country are currently overwhelmed with new animals, those who don't get adopted fairly quickly are often at risk of being euthanized to free up some space in the facilities. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025

Reflecting on their wedding, Alessandra and Andrea are overwhelmed with gratitude. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2025

In a combat situation, a human operator would be quickly overwhelmed. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2025

Parrots are loud and often aggressive, which is why thousands are passed every year from overwhelmed owner to overwhelmed owner, or end up in sanctuaries. —David Segal, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1