sensory overload

American  

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

noun

Physiology, Medicine/Medical.

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of sensory overload

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Neurodiverse people can become overwhelmed or distressed when surrounded by large numbers of people, which can bring on sensory overload or panic attacks.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 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

Back onstage, the sensory overload was total: the roar of the crowd, the strobing lights, the sub-bass rattling through their bodies.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2025

The once overwhelming sensory overload of township life now seemed second nature to me.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore