overwhelmed

[oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd]

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

• unoverwhelmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwhelmed¹

overwhelm ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In the early years of his career, the Capitals winger overwhelmed opponents with his speed and power.

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On that day, the first major final of her career, she had been overwhelmed by the moment and lived every player’s worst nightmare: a 6-0, 6-0 hammering.

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No longer overwhelmed by the Alcaraz forehand, he clawed back the second set—something no one else had managed against Alcaraz all tournament.

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There were also tensions and petty jealousies between different sets of increasingly overwhelmed foster parents and with Sothea, who controlled the project’s purse strings.

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At the time I was feeling overwhelmed with work, marriage and motherhood.

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Related Words

• affected 
• devastated 
• moved 
• overpowered www.thesaurus.com