overwhelm

[oh-ver-hwelm, -welm]

verb (used with object)

1. to overcome completely in mind or feeling.

   overwhelmed by remorse.

2. to overpower or overcome, especially with superior forces; destroy; crush.

   Roman troops were overwhelmed by barbarians.

3. to cover or bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche; submerge.

   Lava from erupting Vesuvius overwhelmed the city of Pompeii.

4. to load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything.

   a child overwhelmed with presents; to overwhelm someone with questions.

5. to overthrow.

overwhelm

/ ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm /

verb

1. to overpower the thoughts, emotions, or senses of

2. to overcome with irresistible force

3. to overcome, as with a profusion or concentration of something

4. to cover over or bury completely

5. to weigh or rest upon overpoweringly

6. archaic,  to overturn

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwhelm¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; over-, whelm

Example Sentences

However, the Court of Appeal heard this could inspire other councils to make similar claims and overwhelm the asylum system by closing down hotels in their areas.

From BBC

After the operations, Hopper had been "totally overwhelmed by support from friends and family which made it even more difficult to tell them what had really happened".

From BBC

They’ve currently been scaled back out of concerns that it all might get too overwhelming.

From Los Angeles Times

“Despite not finding her body, we have been provided with overwhelming evidence to prove that not only is Nikki dead, but that Tyler McCain is responsible for her murder,” Bridgett said.

From Los Angeles Times

As overwhelming as his athletic gifts are, as many jaw-dropping passes as he’s completed, Herbert still hasn’t won a playoff game for the Chargers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bewilder 
• confound 
• confuse 
• demoralize 
• destroy 
• disturb 
• dumbfound 
• overcome 
• overpower 
• puzzle 
• shock 
• stun 
• surprise 
• swamp 
• upset 

When To Use

What’s the difference between overwhelm and underwhelm?

The over- in overwhelm means “too much” and the under- in underwhelm essentially means “too little,” and the two words can be direct opposites, but they’re usually used in different contexts.Overwhelm most commonly means to cause to be overcome with emotion as a result of an amount of something (work, stress, etc.) that’s just too much to handle. (It can also mean to overpower or physically cover beneath a mass of something). Underwhelm means to fail to impress, especially when that is the expectation.Both words are often used in adjective forms: overwhelmed (overcome to the point of not being able to manage), overwhelming (describing something that leads to feeling overwhelmed), underwhelmed (unimpressed or disappointed), and underwhelming (unimpressive or disappointing).Being overwhelmed isn’t always about stress or other negative emotions. You could be overwhelmed by a friend’s generosity or the birth of a child. Still, it’s usually about feeling a lot. In this way, underwhelm can be the opposite of overwhelm in some situations. For example, the same concert may overwhelm one person (perhaps it’s the first concert they’ve ever attended) but underwhelm someone else (maybe because it doesn’t meet their high expectations).And, yes, whelm is a word. It can mean the same thing as overwhelm, but it’s very rarely used.Here’s an example of overwhelm and underwhelm used correctly in the same sentence.Example: I never want to underwhelm the fans, and sometimes that pressure can overwhelm me, but it all goes away when I walk on stage.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between overwhelm and underwhelm.