overwhelmed

American  

[oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd] / ˌoʊ vərˈʰwɛlmd, -ˈwɛlmd /

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.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of overwhelm.

Other Word Forms

• unoverwhelmed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of overwhelmed

overwhelm ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

“The expenses and everything else, it just overwhelmed me,” said Merenda, who is 63.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

These higher-order effects are much harder to achieve because they are naturally very weak and quickly become overwhelmed by noise.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

“Five minutes into his talk, I started breaking down crying. I got overwhelmed by emotions,” Wang said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Even at the premiere, some had trouble speaking because they were so overwhelmed with emotions: "This is the happiest day of my life," exclaimed one.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

I strained against the cords, overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered