Overwhelm — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm/ over·whelm

Meaning & Definition of Overwhelm

Overwhelm (verb)

  1. upset, overthrow
  2. to cover over completely, submerge
  3. to overcome by superior force or numbers

Overwhelm (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

    "just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me"

    similar: crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate, snow under, swamp, whelm
    related: deluge, drown, sink, confute, defeat, refute, break, demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset

  2. to cover with a flood

    "that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley"

    similar: deluge, drown, engulf, flood, gulf, inundate, overflow, submerge, submerse, swamp
    related: avalanche, smother, overcome, overrun, flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream, douse, drench, soak, wet
    opposite: drain
    near: dehydrate, dry, parch

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Overwhelm

The most common words with a similar meaning to Overwhelm:

crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate, snow under, swamp, whelm, deluge, drown, engulf, flood, gulf, inundate, overflow, submerge, submerse

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Overwhelm

Words with the opposite meaning of Overwhelm:

drain

Related Words for Overwhelm

sink, confute, defeat, refute, break, demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset, avalanche, smother, overrun, flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream, douse, drench, soak, wet

Near Antonyms of Overwhelm

dehydrate, dry, parch

Word Forms of Overwhelm

Inflections: overwhelmed, overwhelming, overwhelms

Origin & Etymology of Overwhelm

Middle English, from over:1 + whelmen to turn over, cover up

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Overwhelm

Frequently Asked Questions about Overwhelm

What does "Overwhelm" mean?

"Overwhelm" means upset, overthrow. As a verb, it is defined as: upset, overthrow. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Overwhelm"?

Other words for "Overwhelm" include crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster and overpower. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Overwhelm" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Overwhelm"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Overwhelm". Common alternatives include crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate and snow under.

What is the opposite of "Overwhelm"?

Antonyms of "Overwhelm" include drain. Near antonyms include dehydrate, dry and parch.

How do you use "Overwhelm" in a sentence?

Examples of "Overwhelm" in a sentence: "just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me"; "that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley".

Is "Overwhelm" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Overwhelm" is a verb.

Is "Overwhelm" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Overwhelm" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Overwhelm"?

"Overwhelm" is pronounced /ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm/ and divided into syllables as over·whelm.