ENGULF Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

engulf

verb

in-ˈgəlf

Definition of engulf

as in to flood

to cover with a flood high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of engulf For many, watching flames engulf the town hall in Limoges, a central town known for its porcelain, was an assault on the state itself. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 In Limoges, a city in central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. — Sylvie Corbet, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2026 The deadliest week for civilians in the Gulf marks a turning point in the US-Iran war that has engulfed the Middle East from Beirut to Aden, and from Irbil to Salalah. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 In 2024, the main nationwide entrance examination for medical schools was engulfed in controversy over a slew of irregularities, including the advance leak of the exam’s questions. — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engulf

Recent Examples of Synonyms for engulf

Verb

For much of the Gaza war, Israeli protesters flooded the streets demanding that Netanyahu strike a deal with Hamas to release Israeli hostages and end the fighting.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
The area has experienced unusually heavy rain since Wednesday that caused rivers to surge, flooding homes and forcing water rescues.

— Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

The president left office above water on the economy, with 48% approving and 41% disapproving — high numbers for a president whose last year was overwhelmed by the Covid pandemic.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Economic recovery, the official argued, must accompany political reform to prevent a future democratic government from being overwhelmed by debt, failing infrastructure, shortages, inflation and insecurity.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

Equally weighting stocks ensures companies in smaller industries aren’t drowned out by massive ones, like Big Tech.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Other components in blood can produce stronger signals that drown them out, according to a scientific review published in Applied Spectroscopy.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of drown

Verb

On the greatest album of all time, her voice is less affected yet further out of reach, persistently clouded by AutoTune and sometimes submerged under the beats, so only her sibilants break the surface.

— Walden Green, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
In his lab, mold has appeared only under deliberately extreme conditions, like submerging beans in water for hours and then exposing them to air for days.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of submerge

Browse Nearby Words

engrossment

engulf

engulfed

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“Engulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engulf. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of engulf

verb

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