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Definitions

overwhelm

[oh-ver-hwelm, -welm] / ˌoʊ vərˈʰwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm /
VERB
flood, beat physically
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crush defeat deluge destroy engulf inundate overcome overpower overrun rout submerge swamp
STRONG
bury conquer drown drub massacre overflow overthrow smother thrash total whip win
Antonyms
STRONGEST
encourage inspirit lose surrender underwhelm yield
STRONG
fail forfeit uncover
WEAK
not impress
VERB
astonish, devastate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bewilder confound confuse demoralize destroy disturb dumbfound overcome overpower puzzle shock stun surprise swamp upset
STRONG
downgrade drown floor kill prostrate shatter stagger steamroller subordinate wreck
WEAK
blow out of the water bowl over do in render speechless run circles around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clarify clear up comfort enlighten explain order organize surrender yield
STRONG
aid assist create help
WEAK
not impress underwhelm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If the kitchen feels far gone — trash, dishes, that low-grade sense of overwhelm — it’s easy to assume that anything short of a full clean won’t make a meaningful difference.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

“The tailwinds from this global industrial build-out can overwhelm the difficulty in absorbing the energy costs,” said David Waddell, chief investment strategist at Waddell and Associates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Too many choices can lead to overwhelm; many people in an IRA are in cash, because they look at the 10,000-plus options available and they don’t know what to do with the money.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Coordinated attacks via networks of hijacked devices, used to overwhelm systems, also more than doubled in 2025 and are becoming more common thanks to services available for hire.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Suddenly free of this burden, they can burst out and overwhelm the landscape.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Vocabulary lists containing overwhelm

The Diary of Anne Frank

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Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites

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List 7

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