Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

overwhelm

[oh-ver-hwelm, -welm] / ˌoʊ vərˈʰwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm /




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.

See Examples For:

They also showed lower indicators of oxidative stress, a process in which harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species overwhelm the body's protective defenses.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

“It’s not necessarily weakening demand for AI computing. But, in my mind, it’s a growing concern that CoreWeave’s enormous borrowing requirements could overwhelm its ability to generate cash and refinance debt at reasonable rates.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

“It was flood the zone. It was trying to overwhelm with speed and volume, and we kept pace every time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

As a result, the complaint says, instead of snow in the winter, Boulder gets more “high-intensity, short-duration rainfall events” that overwhelm its drainage systems and cause flooding.

From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026

Once it was gone, all the suffering had risen up to overwhelm her.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

“That overwhelms every other value proposition that you will have on the power block.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Even here in the relative safety of Annapolis, Maryland, an advancing armada of amped-up college kids overwhelms me.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

Ferroptosis occurs when iron-driven damage to cell membranes overwhelms a cell's antioxidant defenses.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026

The cost of setting up a processing system to recover these byproducts often overwhelms their market, so domestic production likely won’t get off the ground without government support.

From Barron's ● Mar. 9, 2026

The excited rhythm of Alberti’s “Fiesta” overwhelms the pulsing throb of my headache.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

The enduring influence of the tragedy has since overwhelmed other narratives about Medea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

First-time visitors to Paris can easily be overwhelmed by how much there is to take in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

The GSF is being slowly deployed to assist overwhelmed local police.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

His main role, he insists, is that of supportive, and sometimes overwhelmed co-parent and husband.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Every sense Akira had was overwhelmed by the stuff.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Simmering and subtly cumulative, the movie is full of overwhelming anguish, buried beneath a masculine stoicism forever threatening to come undone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

The results help explain how a process involving an overwhelming number of possible molecular arrangements can consistently produce the correct structure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Watching someone insist on their version of reality in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary evokes all manner of emotions: disgust, anger, disbelief, admiration and, of course, doubt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

"It is overwhelming for Mark here with his family, friends and all the fans who have paid good money to see him play," said Brown.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Even after White detailed the overwhelming evidence against him, Hale seemed unperturbed, as if he still held the upper hand.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann


Vocabulary lists containing overwhelm

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training