overwhelmed

[ oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈʰwɛlmd, -ˈwɛlmd /

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adjective

completely overcome in mind or feeling: She told the overwhelmed and sobbing mother she would take care of all medical expenses.

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.

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

the simple past tense and past participle of overwhelm.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of overwhelmed

overwhelm + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM overwhelmed

un·ov·er·whelmed, adjective

Words nearby overwhelmed

overween, overweening, overweigh, overweight, overwhelm, overwhelmed, overwhelming, overwind, overwinter, overwire, overwise

How to use overwhelmed in a sentence

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by too many moving parts, so be patient and give your body the time it needs to absorb a skill before turning to the next one.
6 Easy Ways to Be a Better Skier|Heather Hansman|October 1, 2020|Outside Online
When temperatures rise, however, the vibrio begins reproducing rapidly, overwhelming the protective commensals.
When Evolution Is Infectious - Issue 90: Something Green|Moises Velasquez-Manoff|September 30, 2020|Nautilus
At ﬁrst, he and his colleagues called to check on the students who weren’t logging on, but the calls only further overwhelmed their parents and guardians, roughly half of whom are foster parents.
The Students Left Behind by Remote Learning|by Alec MacGillis|September 28, 2020|ProPublica
When this lands as a standard feature down the line, it will likely appeal to real-estate photographers and others who shoot in a mixture of indoor and outdoor settings where contrast can overwhelm a camera’s dynamic range.
Photoshop will soon use AI to add dramatic skies to your boring photos|Stan Horaczek|September 23, 2020|Popular-Science

One example of an immediate problem Meyerriecks says the agency faces is being overwhelmed by the amount of data it collects.
CIA’s new tech recruiting pitch: More patents, more profits|Patrick O'Neill|September 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
However, tradition overwhelmed the legal victory, and she sadly succumbed to the intense pressure to marry her attacker.
We’re Not Done in Afghanistan|Kimberley Motley|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We are overwhelmed with data from every quarter, and our capacity to filter fact from fraud is limited.
The Facts About Ferguson Matter, Dammit|Doug McIntyre|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The low crunch of packed dirt against rubber tire was overwhelmed by the ragged explosions of automatic gunfire.
A Belgian Prince, Gorillas, Guerrillas & the Future of the Congo|Nina Strochlic|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Singh finally showed up at the front door of his home in Amritsar, his family was overwhelmed with relief.
As 30-Year Anniversary of Mass Killings in India Arrives, Sikhs Find Safety in USA|Simran Jeet Singh|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When you land in Fort Mac, a town of 100,000, you immediately are overwhelmed by the slickness of the brand new airport.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was sheriff of Paris, 1770, and employed his leisure in objects of benevolence, till the revolution overwhelmed him.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The door was open, and the woman and the child stood dumbfounded and overwhelmed in a scene of incredible desolation.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
Mrs. Ducksmith, who had sat with overwhelmed head in her hands, started bolt upright, and looked at him like one thunderstruck.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
He didn't understand her but the thrill of what was to come overwhelmed him, and in the next instant he held her in his arms.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
A sharp fight ensued, but the Americans, overwhelmed by the mass, had to retreat to Narvican.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman