overwhelmed
Americanadjective
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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
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Derived 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.
"I think we've all been, I wouldn't say overwhelmed, but pleasantly surprised by the excitement and the buzz around the team, and in the stadiums," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
He’d stand in the aisles overwhelmed by the Technicolor labels, the piles of Edenic produce, and the thought that his family — wherever they may be — might not be able to afford food.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Wednesday's Pearson Edexcel paper one exam has left students feeling "overwhelmed" and "uncertain" by questions that required "multiple layers of reasoning" and "extended algebraic manipulation".
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
“When people are overwhelmed by today’s financial pressures, they often delay saving, avoid making decisions or react emotionally to market volatility, all of which can hurt long-term outcomes.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
The more I raged, the more friction and heat overwhelmed me.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
