overwhelmed

[ oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd ]

adjective

1. completely overcome in mind or feeling:

   She told the overwhelmed and sobbing mother she would take care of all medical expenses.

2. loaded, filled, or addressed with an excessive amount of anything:

   Over 100 dogs were transported to other parts of the state from overwhelmed animal shelters on the coast.

3. overpowered or crushed, as by superior forces:

   The aim of the coalition's operation was to stop the dictator and his army from attacking already overwhelmed rebel troops.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of overwhelm ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·ov·er·whelmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwhelmed¹

overwhelm ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

When I do feel overwhelmed, I’ll sit completely still and look out the window at trees.

From Salon

Sangeeta, who goes by one name, is overwhelmed every day as she juggles work, household chores and childcare while enduring severe hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, backache and abdominal pain.

From BBC

If we remembered absolutely everything that happened to us, we’d be overwhelmed with too much information.

From Slate

Speaking to BBC News, Harvey said she was "in complete shock and very overwhelmed".

From BBC

“We thought we were doing it to avoid a northern Italy situation,” she said, referring to scenes in Lombardy, where intensive-care units had been overwhelmed.

From BBC

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered