1
as in overcomes
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in engulfs
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 overwhelms
The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.
—
Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
Demand overwhelms supply, and thousands die each year before one becomes available.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
No one can resist a timeless game-night staple like Candy Land that keeps kids entertained and overwhelms adults with nostalgia.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
There are too many universes where San Francisco overwhelms an inferior team.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
This overwhelms staff trying to prioritize who to care for first and often means there are not enough hospital beds for sick patients.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
If a disaster overwhelms state and local capacity, officials may request a presidential declaration, the agency said.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Ultimately, that could prolong the lifespan of both drugs, and help countries avoid the kind of surge in deaths that's happened when resistance overwhelms existing tools.
—NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelms
Verb
-
But even here, her sincerity overcomes her weakness for sentimental flourishes, including Amine Bouhafa’s treacly score.—
-
The research team at Tokyo Polytechnic University has now demonstrated a simple and affordable VLC system that overcomes several of these obstacles.—
Verb
-
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.—
-
The novel is about three teenagers experiencing the joy and angst of their senior year in a New York City high school as the AIDS crisis devastates their community.—
Verb
-
The other will take the easy route, churning out generic content that floods the market but doesn’t resonate with customers.—
-
Downpours could close some parking areas at the Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley, which often floods in heavy rain.—
Verb
-
His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people.—
Verb
-
Baseus Noise-cancelling Headphones These noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for frequent travelers, delivering adaptive noise reduction that drowns out jet engine roar, crying babies, and chatty seatmates for peaceful flights or train rides.—
-
About once a year, someone drowns.—
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelms. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share