overwhelm Hear it!

overwhelm Definition

over·whelm (ō′vər hwelm, -welm)

transitive verb

  1. to pour down upon and cover over or bury beneath
  2. to make helpless, as with greater force or deep emotion; overcome; crush; overpower
  3. Obsolete to overthrow or overturn

Etymology: ME oferwhelmen: see over- & whelm

overwhelm Related Forms

o′ver·whelm·ing adjective o′ver·whelm·ingly adverb

overwhelm Synonyms

overwhelm

v.

  1. To defeat

    overcome, overthrow, conquer, destroy; see confute, defeat 1, win 1.

  2. To drown

    submerge, inundate, waste; see flood, sink 1.

  3. To astonish

    puzzle, bewilder, confound; see confuse, surprise 1.

overwhelm Usage Examples

Object

  • feeling: Rather than waiting until the last minute and feeling overwhelmed with the size of the job, start now and take small bites.
  • conversation: Do you dream of having a party where the music doesn't overwhelm the conversation?

Preposition: with

  • grief: It has been really hard for me because every day I am overwhelmed with grief.
  • gratitude: She was overwhelmed with gratitude for the dentures and reading glasses she had received free of charge.
  • guilt: I followed an inner code of right and wrong and would be overwhelmed with guilt when I felt I had broken the rules.
  • joy: Overwhelmed with joy to see me again, she pulled me inside.
  • emotion: But can remember Richard saying " its a Boy " and feeling so overwhelmed with emotion.

Subject

  • generosity: I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who have helped me create this site.
  • grief: Plaintive singing also frequently requires on certain sorrowful subjects, the faltering of the tongue, as if overwhelmed by grief.
  • kindness: We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support from family and friends.
  • warmth: My talk on the future of geriatrics provoked a lot of discussion and I was overwhelmed by the warmth of my reception.
  • response: Scott said: " We have been overwhelmed by the response to the campaign from British sport.
  • emotion: Oh my, as usual, overwhelmed by emotions while thinking about HIM!

Modifying Another Word

emotionally: He received a standing ovation and was emotionally overwhelmed by it.

Preposition: by

  • generosity: I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who have helped me create this site.
  • grief: Plaintive singing also frequently requires on certain sorrowful subjects, the faltering of the tongue, as if overwhelmed by grief.
  • kindness: We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support from family and friends.
  • warmth: My talk on the future of geriatrics provoked a lot of discussion and I was overwhelmed by the warmth of my reception.
  • response: Scott said: " We have been overwhelmed by the response to the campaign from British sport.
  • emotion: Oh my, as usual, overwhelmed by emotions while thinking about HIM!

Browse dictionary entries near overwhelm

  1. overweight
  2. overweigh
  3. overweening
  4. overweary
  5. overwear
  6. overwatch
  7. overview
  8. overvalued
  9. overvalue
  10. overuse
  1. overwhelmed
  2. overwhelming
  3. overwind
  4. overwinter
  5. overword
  6. overwork
  7. overworked
  8. overwrite
  9. overwriting
  10. overwrought