1
a
: to an overwhelming extent
an overwhelmingly powerful army
b
: extremely
overwhelmingly mediocre
2
: mostly by far
the workers were overwhelmingly female

Examples of overwhelmingly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In that raucous public square known as Reddit, anti-Trumpers are planning protests, evidence that Trump should not expect an overwhelmingly enthusiastic welcome in the traditionally red Sunflower State. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Nurses at Allegheny General Hospital voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to authorize a strike, if necessary, during contract negotiations with Allegheny Health Network, citing concerns about staffing, retention and benefits. — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Officials and activists in the overwhelmingly Democratic city say the deployment is a waste of taxpayer money and has normalized the militarization of a major American city. — Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026 At the ballot box, voters have overwhelmingly rejected major pieces of the party’s agenda, including an effort to weaken their power to bypass the legislature by amending the constitution or putting laws passed by lawmakers to a statewide vote. — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelmingly

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of overwhelmingly was in 1667

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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelmingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwhelmingly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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