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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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 Footage taken in Yangon showed a massive array of drugs engulfed in a raging inferno, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. — Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 In footage shared online, one vehicle seemed to be engulfed in a fireball, while another had significant damage to a tyre arch and wheel, The Telegraph reported. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Polls show Democrats are the favorites to retake Congress heading into November, but the party is engulfed at the moment by a fierce debate about its ideologicl direction. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 1 July 2026 About 350,000 Haitian nationals in the United States face the risk of being returned to a country that is engulfed in extreme gang violence, widespread hunger and political instability. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for engulf

Recent Examples of Synonyms for engulf

Verb

News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Video from the store's security camera captured the collapse, showing a portion of the roof fall near the bakery section as a deluge of water flooded the interior.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 July 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.

— Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

The death marked the fourth fatal drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2026, according to the patrol’s data.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
The team’s supporters filled a few compact sections, islands of green drowned out in a sea of blue Kylian Mbappé jerseys.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026

Definition of drown

Verb

The subs never actually submerged—passengers simply sat below the lagoon’s waterline—but the ride embodied a growing appetite for underwater tourism.

— Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Soon, the pump station was submerged, the engines stopped, and water pressure plummeted across most of the city.

— Kansas City Public Library staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of engulf

verb

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