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.

NAIROBI, Kenya—The fast-spreading Ebola virus is overwhelming creaking hospitals and clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo, dimming hopes for quick containment of what is already the third-largest outbreak of the killer disease in history.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Accumulating plastic waste is overwhelming waterways and oceans, sickening marine life and threatening human health.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Typing those words as an American in 2026 is overwhelming, even if the purpose here is simply to temporally contextualize this project.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026

The joy of all the family at that first call, captured on video, is overwhelming.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

If I had been prepared, I would have been able to anticipate the onslaught, but now it is overwhelming and I feel like I’m suffocating.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass