1
as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surpluses
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in spills
to flow over the brim or top of
while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in engulfs
to cover with a flood
the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflows
Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Since 1995, the sewerage district has invested more than $580 million in green infrastructure and flood management projects to improve the landscape's ability to hold onto water, minimizing overflows.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Wetlands protect homes, reduce sewer overflows and safeguard lives.
—Howard Learner, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Things take a turn for the worse when, in a moment viewers can't stop talking about all these weeks later, Mark uses the bathroom and the toilet overflows.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
More rural parts of the country can also see overflows from factory farms, leading to large amounts of animal waste and other pollutants ending up in ponds, lakes and rivers.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Bacteria can enter beaches via stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, leaking sewer pipes and sewer overflows, among other sources, according to Massachusetts' Public Health Department and Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Sea, Mothers, Swallow, Tongues overflows with humanity.
—Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
Combined sewer overflows are unhealthy for people and the environment in a few ways.
—Noa Climor, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
The other 23 days last summer had high caution readings that lasted anywhere from one to 24 hours, only four of those corresponding with sewer overflows.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Environmental advocates also spoke in favor of state legislation on Beacon Hill, including bills that would require timely public notification when sewage overflows occur, mandate water utilities reduce sewer overflows and support local clean water improvements.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
This would prevent combined sewer overflows, which is when sewage floods area stormwater lines and deposits into local waterbodies.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Since 1995, the sewerage district has invested more than $580 million in green infrastructure and flood management projects to improve the landscape's ability to hold onto water, minimizing overflows.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Wetlands protect homes, reduce sewer overflows and safeguard lives.
—Howard Learner, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Cape Town overflows with history and culture, from the colorful houses and Cape Malay heritage of Bo-Kaap to the solemn shores of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Things take a turn for the worse when, in a moment viewers can't stop talking about all these weeks later, Mark uses the bathroom and the toilet overflows.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
More rural parts of the country can also see overflows from factory farms, leading to large amounts of animal waste and other pollutants ending up in ponds, lakes and rivers.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Bacteria can enter beaches via stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, leaking sewer pipes and sewer overflows, among other sources, according to Massachusetts' Public Health Department and Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Sea, Mothers, Swallow, Tongues overflows with humanity.
—Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
Combined sewer overflows are unhealthy for people and the environment in a few ways.
—Noa Climor, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
The other 23 days last summer had high caution readings that lasted anywhere from one to 24 hours, only four of those corresponding with sewer overflows.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Environmental advocates also spoke in favor of state legislation on Beacon Hill, including bills that would require timely public notification when sewage overflows occur, mandate water utilities reduce sewer overflows and support local clean water improvements.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflows
Noun
-
Deadly floods in Asia have devastated crops, crippling already fragile food production.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Are places with smaller gaps or with retirement income surpluses necessarily better places to retire?—
Roxana Popescu,
Mercury News,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Later, those conservative projections produce surpluses that are used to pay down debt and lower taxes.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And that spills over to the public, where the other (political) side is seen as a one-dimensional figure that is a threat.—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Zarutska, who had fled war-town Ukraine, grabs her neck as blood spills onto the floor.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Alien fans know, the facehugger will impregnate its host with a Xenomorph embryo, which eventually bursts from the host's chest.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains.—
AZCentral.com,
AZCentral.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The valley floor hums with cowbells and the distant whir of paragliders circling above alpine meadows—as Trümmelbach’s glacial torrents roar through limestone caverns.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But the showy structure overwhelms the unshowy story.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
-
And so, as this deluge of data overwhelms us with such velocity, the imperative is ensuring that decisions are well-informed by precise, whole and transparent evidence.—
Anna Forsythe,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On football weekends, the whole town buzzes with maroon pride, fans, and festive energy.—
Jill Robbins,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Nyhavn’s vibrant waterfront dazzles with its iconic townhouses, while Vesterbro’s gritty-chic Meatpacking District buzzes with galleries and nightlife.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The comments section of the New York Times, once the natural home of blithe, unexamined liberal Zionism, now abounds with people calling for a total suspension of military aid and diplomatic cover.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
-
At a time when digital content abounds, MC2 hopes to act as a filter, bringing editorial rigor and discernment to a fast-changing landscape by leveraging the expertise of their teams in Europe, Asia, and beyond.—
Ana María Caballero,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overflows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflows. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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