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

Cornwall Council said the area had a long history of flooding from water running off nearby fields, which overwhelmed drains designed only for highway runoff.

From BBC

When overwhelmed with emotion, which she was often, she would scream, “I wanna bear all your children!” to audiences.

From Los Angeles Times

The best thing you can do for the group and for your overwhelmed friend: Mentally and financially count her out and wait until she’s ready to face that reality as well.

From MarketWatch

She has spoken with her son since learning of the decision, and said he is similarly overwhelmed: "He had been anxious and unsettled about today's hearing."

From Barron's

They happen when water treatment works become overwhelmed, usually after rainfall, allowing highly diluted sewage to spill into a river as a "safety valve".

From BBC

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered