overwhelmed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of overwhelmednext
as in bewildered

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overwhelmed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of overwhelm
1
as in devastated
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flooded
to cover with a flood that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of overwhelmed
Adjective
This is a great method to employ at home to prevent getting overwhelmed. — Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026 But on days of extreme heat and humidity, your body can get overwhelmed, unable to cool down fast enough on its own, according to the Cleveland Clinic. — Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Tampa's speed and contact ability overwhelmed Detroit from the jump, and even though Valdez eventually settled down, Rays' starter Drew Rasmussen was ace-worthy over six innings in his seventh-straight winning start. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The wait times also help ensure that the site doesn’t get overwhelmed by demand. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelmed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelmed
  1. bewildered
  2. devastated
  3. flooded
  4. staggered
  5. overcame
  6. engulfed
  7. stunned
  8. crushed
Adjective
  • That bewildered shake of the head after Meyer's pitch in that video is not a rare occurrence for Raleigh this year.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • On Douban, a popular Chinese movie-review platform, viewers piled on with mocking and bewildered comments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, hundreds of thousands fled to Houston.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • It was found in Shasta County, in an area that was devastated in the Carr Fire in 2018.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • Culture news and the SoCal scene The internet was flooded with news out of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art this week as an embargo lifted on coverage from inside the new 300,000-square-foot building in Exposition Park.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • It initially was allowed onto the ballot, and its young supporters flooded social media with videos promoting the party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of flooded
Adjective
  • Their ceremony was spare, with only a few urns filled with dusty pink and peach roses, while dinner featured loads of thin white candles set in bronzed candelabra at staggered heights.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The measures, which are still in the early phases and subject to significant changes over the next few months, will be introduced via a staggered rollout period, according to the report.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • Kittredge wisely includes testimonials from many below-the-line crew who speak openly of pride in the movie’s ambitions but also how quickly damage control overcame everything.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Direct internal heating Stanford researchers overcame this challenge by developing an internal heating method.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of overcame
Verb
  • Fire engulfed Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a major government hospital in Islamabad, on Wednesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Chinese state media reported there is no sign of survivors at a border crossing which was engulfed by the flood wave.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of engulfed
Adjective
  • Chelsea and Everton were left stunned after Monaco called off the sale of Lamine Camara to the former English club, only for his team-mate and USMNT striker Folarin Balogun to pull out of a move to the latter.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • One of his cousins raises a fist in triumph as everyone files out, completely stunned that this day actually arrived.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • The very next day, like an anvil falling from the sky, Forte and his collaborators were crushed by the news that Warner Bros, the film’s studio, had decided to shelve the movie for a tax write-off.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Horned Frogs crushed the Tar Heels 48-14 in last year’s season opener at Chapel Hill, ruining the college coaching debut of six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of crushed

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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelmed. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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