Overwhelm: meaning, definitions and examples

When someone feels so much emotion or stress that they can't handle it. It can also refer to a large amount of something becoming too much to manage.

• She was overwhelmed by the news of her promotion
• The small team was overwhelmed by the amount of work

Often describes water covering an area or can refer to an overwhelming amount of something arriving all at once.

• The heavy rain caused the river to flood the town
• They were flooded with complaints after the product launch

Describes being overwhelmed by a large amount of work or problems, often creating a feeling of being stuck or trapped.

• I am swamped with paperwork this week
• During the holiday season, the store is always swamped with shoppers

Used to describe something being completely surrounded or taken over, often in a dramatic way. It can refer to physical objects or figurative situations.

• The building was engulfed in flames
• She felt engulfed by loneliness

Used to describe a feeling of being buried or swamped by something, whether it's emotions, tasks, or forces.

• The amount of homework began to overwhelm her.
• He felt overwhelmed by the sudden loss of his job.

Often used in more physical or emotional contexts to describe the act of compressing something with force or defeating someone completely. Can have a negative connotation.

• The machine can crush rocks into powder.
• His dreams were crushed when he didn't get the job.

Used when someone or something is defeated by force or strength. Often implies a struggle or resistance.

• The police managed to overpower the suspect.
• The strong flavor of garlic overpowered the dish.

A formal or literary word meaning to defeat someone completely, often used in historical or metaphorical contexts.

• The hero managed to vanquish the evil sorcerer.
• They hoped to vanquish the opposition in the final match.