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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
Massachusetts, a sanctuary state, has been one of a number of states that have been overwhelmed by the migrant surge coming from the southern border.
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Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2024
To restore the United States’ advantage in East Asia, each branch of the armed forces has therefore embarked on efforts to deploy enough unmanned systems to overwhelm China’s denial capabilities.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
The audience was overwhelmed by the stately dance performance, a tradition carried on for over a thousand years.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024
But humans have long been overwhelmed by the scale of the U.S. Code.
—Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm 
Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2024
To restore the United States’ advantage in East Asia, each branch of the armed forces has therefore embarked on efforts to deploy enough unmanned systems to overwhelm China’s denial capabilities.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
The audience was overwhelmed by the stately dance performance, a tradition carried on for over a thousand years.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024
But humans have long been overwhelmed by the scale of the U.S. Code.
—Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
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Yet, deeper reading reveals an honest assessment of the challenges still to be overcome in making change a reality.Lauren Coulman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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Lawmakers overcame the 60-vote threshold to bypass a filibuster in a 73-27 vote.Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But Syria’s then leader, who had succeeded his father Hafez seven years before, represented a stable contrast to the chaos engulfing neighboring Iraq.Ivan Watson, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement The blaze engulfed more than 2,000 acres overnight, as crews contended with strong Santa Ana winds.Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Officials are assessing damage after Cyclone Chido devastated the island of Mayotte over the weekend.Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
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West Ninth Street continued to grow throughout this time, but the Great Depression of the 1930s devastated many businesses and fraternal groups.Helaine Williams, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a world flooded with ads and messages, the brands that stand out are the ones that create real, human connections through their stories.Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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A lot of fans flooded his comments to echo the same sentiments.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The big picture: Most of the Colts' paths to the postseason closed after a crushing Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos that helped the Houston Texans clinch the AFC South.Justin L. Mack, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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The forecast for next week is probably about to crush those dreams.Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The more vigorous the struggle to escape, the more debt that consumes the drowning victim.Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024
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Rome’s iconic Cinecittà Studios is drowning in red ink.Alan Friedman, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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