sensory overload

American

[sen-suh-ree oh-ver-lohd] / ˈsɛn sə ri ˈoʊ vərˌloʊd /

noun

Physiology, Medicine/Medical.

a condition of being overwhelmed by an excessive amount of such stimuli as noise, activity, the company of emotional people, etc..

An anxiety disorder like PTSD can make sensory overload especially easy to trigger.

Etymology

Origin of sensory overload

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

See Examples For:

sensory overload

The result is a raucous, interactive, sensory overload.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

The outcome is both a thrilling sensory overload and unique love letter to her intense and adoring fans, who are often in tears.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

Along with sensory overload and ravenous hunger, I felt something unexpected: a sense of déjà vu.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026

Autistic people may experience challenges with communication, understanding others' thoughts or emotions, managing sensory overload, coping with unfamiliar environments, and engaging in repetitive behaviors.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 28, 2025

If, of course, your definition of groovy is sensory overload.

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023