overwhelm

6 definitions • 10 examples

to defeat someone or something by using a lot of force:

Government troops have overwhelmed the rebels and seized control of the capital.

The boxer relied on his power, pace, and pressure to overwhelm opponents.

to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion:

She was overwhelmed with/by grief when her father died.

I was overwhelmed by all the flowers and letters of support I received.

If water overwhelms a place, it covers it suddenly and completely:

The water overwhelmed levees in the area.

The rain that caused the flooding was of such unusual intensity that the sewers were overwhelmed.

If something overwhelms someone or something, it is too much, or almost too much, for them to manage:

An attack that injures massive numbers would overwhelm hospitals.

Doctors' offices would be overwhelmed with phone calls.

to be too much to deal with:

The number of refugees overwhelmed the relief agencies in the area.

To overwhelm is also to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion:

He was overwhelmed by feelings of remorse for what he had done.