OVERWHELM

overwhelm, deluge, flood out

(verb) charge someone with too many tasks

overpower, overmaster, overwhelm

(verb) overcome by superior force

submerge, drown, overwhelm

(verb) cover completely or make imperceptible; “I was drowned in work”; “The noise drowned out her speech”

overwhelm, overpower, sweep over, whelm, overcome, overtake

(verb) overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Verb

overwhelm (third-person singular simple present overwhelms, present participle overwhelming, simple past and past participle overwhelmed)

To engulf, surge over and submerge.

Synonym: swamp

To overpower, crush.

To overpower emotionally.

To cause to surround, to cover.

Antonyms

• underwhelm

Noun

overwhelm (plural overwhelms)

The state or condition of being overwhelmed.

Source: Wiktionary

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O`ver*whelm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Overwhelmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Overwhelming.]

1. To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow and bury beneath; to ingulf; hence, figuratively, to immerse and bear down; to overpower; to crush; to bury; to oppress, etc., overpoweringly. The sea overwhelmed their enemies. Ps. lxxviii. 53. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. Ps. lv. 5. Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them. Shak. Gaza yet stands; but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. Milton.

2. To project or impend over threateningly. His louering brows o'erwhelming his fair sight. Shak.

3. To cause to surround, to cover. Papin.

O"ver*whelm`

Definition: , n. The act of overwhelming. [R.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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