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

Please pick your one favorite in each category and focus on that, or else we’ll be overwhelmed!

From New York Times

Instead of feeling vindicated, though, Cher felt overwhelmed by doing the show alone.

From Los Angeles Times

“But they often were not able to fix ventilators because the manufacturers were overwhelmed by the number of ventilators that were broken because there were so many being used.”

From Salon

Yet, overwhelmed by the moment, she missed the clue.

From BBC

"An explanation offered by those in touch with police at the time suggests they may have been overwhelmed in this period by historic allegations of abuse."

From BBC

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered