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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
Despite this, local officials report acute shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties.
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Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
The quiet additions enhance styles rather than overwhelm them, ensuring the day’s look remains wholly yours.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025
The paint perfectly matched the shade in the wallpaper and had enough gray tones to not overwhelm the space but enough rich green color to feel luxurious and cozy.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025
Yes, but: Public transit and pedestrian advocates might point to these numbers as evidence that some cities, including ours, are overwhelmed by cars and need to get serious about alternatives.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm 
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
The quiet additions enhance styles rather than overwhelm them, ensuring the day’s look remains wholly yours.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025
The paint perfectly matched the shade in the wallpaper and had enough gray tones to not overwhelm the space but enough rich green color to feel luxurious and cozy.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025
Yes, but: Public transit and pedestrian advocates might point to these numbers as evidence that some cities, including ours, are overwhelmed by cars and need to get serious about alternatives.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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From Klay Thompson to Shaun Livingston to Ball, the NBA has been filled with stories of players overcoming tremendous physical and personal adversity to return to the court.Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
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The Lunar Owls overcame a six-point deficit and ended up winning the league’s first game 84-80 after Diggins-Smith hit a game-ending 3-pointer.Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Reis has made some big leaps in his career, but strolling into this City team — engulfed in the transitional chaos of the Premier League — would be by far the biggest of his career.Thom Harris, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
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But that blissful image has been ruptured in recent days as parts of Los Angeles were engulfed in flames, reducing homes and businesses across the sprawling metropolis to smoldering heaps of ash and rubble, most calamitously in the Pacific Palisades and the community of Altadena.Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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What Happened in Hawaii? In August 2023, the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, on the northwest coast of the island of Maui, was devastated by a raging wildfire which killed 102 people and displaced thousands.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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Our friends and our neighbors have lost homes, and entire communities have been devastated, and there’s still more work to do.Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Humanitarian aid would also flood the strip during this initial phase.Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
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Aid would flood Gaza as residents returned to what is left of their homes, and the Israeli military pulls back from the major population centers, according to the mediators.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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If employment and wages rise, or President-elect Donald Trump says mass deportations are on the horizon — which could cause mass wage inflation — the market will get crushed, especially tech stocks, Cramer continued.Julie Coleman, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
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Most of the bones were crushed and burned, reducing their potential to yield usable DNA.CBS News, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The proliferation of point solutions—tools that solve only one or two specific pain points—has left organizations drowning in software.Joshua Siler, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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While getting these hands-on pics, the bustle of the Vegas Strip didn’t drown out my music or prevent me from hearing my colleague Antonio G. Di Benedetto’s photo cues.Victoria Song, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to overwhelm
Thesaurus Entries Near overwhelm
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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