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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
Instead, with the tariffs in place, worries about an impending recession have overwhelmed any positive benefit for the greenback.
—
Jesse Pound, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
Flooding overwhelms homes and roads, leading to multiple water rescues
Authorities in West Plains in southern Missouri carried out as many as a half a dozen water rescues as of late Friday, according to CNN affiliate KY3.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
And for the most part, a young defense wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
But the country’s hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by patients necessitating medical care.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Jesse Pound, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
Flooding overwhelms homes and roads, leading to multiple water rescues
Authorities in West Plains in southern Missouri carried out as many as a half a dozen water rescues as of late Friday, according to CNN affiliate KY3.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
And for the most part, a young defense wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
But the country’s hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by patients necessitating medical care.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
-
Republicans will need Democratic support to overcome a 60-vote threshold to be able to pass the bill in the Senate.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Prior court decisions and guidance from the Department of Justice have set up hurdles to overcome before the court is forced to overpass a reporter’s privilege to protect sources.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the first, the sheepdog appears engulfed by a thick coat of long white fur, his face nearly obscured by the shaggy mass.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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The ad featured the artist in his studio, struggling with a piece of artwork, when suddenly, the entire room is engulfed in white paint, covering both his paintings and him.—
Mecca Pryor,
Essence,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The floods have devastated local economies and communities.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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In 2014, three West African countries were devastated by an Ebola outbreak that claimed more than 11,000 lives.—
Seth Berkley,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While fans flooded his comments with well-wishes, the rapper’s message was clear: stay vigilant, because health is nothing to play with.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Salvage and cleanup work will continue this weekend as volunteers from nearby communities flood Moundville for a cleanup day to help the Botts and others impacted by the tornado.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The other wildcard for Apple is what Europe will do in the form of retaliatory measures for what Trump announced last Wednesday evening that crushed the stock market on Thursday and Friday.—
Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Atlanta Braves were recently dealt a crushing blow when outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for PEDs.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And the public is left drowning in a sea of hot takes and half-truths, trying to make sense of what—if anything—actually matters.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
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His younger brother Wesley drowned in a swimming pool in 1977, an event that haunted Kilmer for years afterward.—
The New York Times,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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