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 Word Forms

• un·ov·er·whelmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwhelmed¹

overwhelm ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

She was overwhelmed, and she just said, “Amazing, amazing!”

From Los Angeles Times

Extra tents have been added outside Tawila's only hospital which is "already overwhelmed", says Ms Ramstein, and many more civilians are still arriving with gunshot wounds and other emergencies.

From BBC

“The original investigation lasted two and a half years, but the south of France is a very small place. They were overwhelmed. That is why the investigation focused on Gisèle.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jacobs and Roach have written such a quick-witted character that it seems implausible Violet wouldn’t think of this herself, even if she was overwhelmed by the sudden collision of her nerves and trauma.

From Salon

Yamamoto completely overwhelmed the Cubs, not giving up a hit until the fourth inning and not issuing a walk until the sixth.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affected
• devastated
• moved
• overpowered