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Synonyms

overwhelmed

American  
[oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd] / ˌoʊ vərˈʰwɛlmd, -ˈwɛlmd /

adjective

  1. completely overcome in mind or feeling.

    She told the overwhelmed and sobbing mother she would take care of all medical expenses.

  2. loaded, filled, or addressed with an excessive amount of anything.

    Over 100 dogs were transported to other parts of the state from overwhelmed animal shelters on the coast.

  3. overpowered or crushed, as by superior forces.

    The aim of the coalition's operation was to stop the dictator and his army from attacking already overwhelmed rebel troops.


verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of overwhelm.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of overwhelmed

overwhelm ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )

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:

Estate planning can backfire for those who get overwhelmed.

From MarketWatch Jul. 25, 2026

At the Cox's Bazar courthouse, prosecutor Tawhidul Anwar said he was overwhelmed by the scale of the problem.

From Barron's Jul. 21, 2026

The international uproar that followed overwhelmed the U.S. team, which played its worst game of the tournament against Belgium.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 20, 2026

Krissy West, a school physical therapist and mother from New Hampshire, started advocating for more recess last year, after seeing her daughter Daisy get overwhelmed, sometimes resulting in tantrums after school.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

I tell her honestly that when I start to feel negative, anxious, or overwhelmed, I focus on how much I like just being with my friends.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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