overwhelmed
Americanadjective
-
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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of overwhelmed
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.
The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local services, forcing institutions to improvise.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026
Weather services are forecasting another round of hot weather this weekend, after record high temperatures in late June that led to excess deaths, overwhelmed hospitals and closed schools.
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
When asked if she has advice for others who want to start their own business, Gonzalez admits she sometimes feels overwhelmed.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
Just as citizens in 1876 might be overwhelmed if they saw how we live in 2026, the look of the Journal from decades ago might be unrecognizable to today’s readers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Looking at the crowd, she could see her mother at the front of the line pleading with the desk sergeant, who looked overwhelmed.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
