Overwhelm: meaning, definitions and examples

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overwhelm

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈwɛlm ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

feeling

To give someone a strong feeling or emotion that is difficult to deal with. It can be positive or negative.

Synonyms

engulf, flood, swamp

Examples of usage

  • She was overwhelmed with joy when she received the good news.
  • He was overwhelmed by the amount of work he had to do.
Context #2 | Verb

defeat

To defeat someone or something completely.

Synonyms

crush, overpower, vanquish

Examples of usage

  • The army was overwhelmed by the enemy forces.
  • The team overwhelmed their opponents in the final match.

Translations

Translations of the word "overwhelm" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrecarregar

🇮🇳 अभिभूत करना

🇩🇪 überwältigen

🇮🇩 menguasai

🇺🇦 перевантажувати

🇵🇱 przytłoczyć

🇯🇵 圧倒する (あっとうする)

🇫🇷 submerger

🇪🇸 abrumar

🇹🇷 ezmek

🇰🇷 압도하다

🇸🇦 طغى

🇨🇿 přemoci

🇸🇰 premôcť

🇨🇳 压倒 (yādǎo)

🇸🇮 premagati

🇮🇸 yfirbuga

🇰🇿 басып тастау

🇬🇪 გადატვირთვა

🇦🇿 üstələmək

🇲🇽 abrumar

Etymology

The word 'overwhelm' originated from the Middle English word 'overwhelmen', which means to overturn or overthrow. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The prefix 'over-' intensifies the meaning of 'whelm', which itself means to engulf or submerge. Over time, the word has evolved to represent a range of intense emotions and actions, from being flooded with feelings to being defeated completely.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,421, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.