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

And when he later stepped in with Beterbiev - one of the most feared punchers in world boxing - he performed admirably before ultimately being overwhelmed.

Read more on BBC

The performance was another matter altogether, a dizzying mix of expressive, ultra-attacking football played at a rapid pace, combined with a raw physical intensity off the ball which overwhelmed their opponents.

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I could tell her how I feel overwhelmed by even the simplest task, or how hopeless I feel on a regular basis.

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Bass, whose main interest was the Mediterranean Bronze Age, was at first overwhelmed by the opportunity.

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“We have to innovate before regulating, and we have to protect not to be overwhelmed by non-European competitors,” said Macron.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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