overwhelming

1 of 2

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)wel-miŋ How to pronounce overwhelming (audio)
Synonyms of overwhelming
: tending or serving to overwhelm
overwhelming force
overwhelming evidence
also : extreme, great
overwhelming indifference
an overwhelming majority

overwhelming

2 of 2

present participle of overwhelm

Examples of overwhelming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
There were tent camps on both sides of the border, caravans of people trudging through Central America and concerns about newcomers overwhelming social services. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 There are no flies in the ointment of the overwhelming touring success of Noah Kahan. — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 Across the country, more and more fans are identifying with Casey’s overwhelming frustration with the current state of our democracy. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026 Seventy-one percent have close relatives in Cuba, including an overwhelming majority, 92%, of those who arrived in the United States after 2020. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelming

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overwhelming was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

overwhelmed
overwhelming
overwhelmingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwhelming. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

overwhelming

adjective
over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈhwel-miŋ How to pronounce overwhelming (audio)
-wel-
: great sense 4, extreme
an overwhelming response
overwhelmingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on overwhelming

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overwhelming

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