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

If you are overwhelmed by invites, politely decline. —Myisha Battle, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024

Shapero notes that 64% of professionals globally report feeling overwhelmed by how quickly their jobs are changing. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 15 Dec. 2024

If Mercury retrograde left you feeling overwhelmed and tangled in Wi-Fi issues or family quarrels, Mercury direct brings resolution. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

Hospitals are overwhelmed, understaffed, and under-resourced. —Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1