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

“I’m overwhelmed and so angry that I can’t even explain it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

In Florida, a viral video shows a woman, overwhelmed with emotion, pleading with an immigration judge to free her terminally ill father from ICE detention.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Luc asked me, but I was so overwhelmed I could think of only one.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered