to overwhelm
74
4.0
- verb
- /ˌoʊvərˈwɛlm/
- His Crow and Ankara scouts later said that Custer's men were overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
- threaten to overwhelm
- overwhelm the state
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeIran striking Israel and overwhelming them with many days of attacks.
- Iran striking Israel and overwhelming them with many days of attacks.
- What will happen is is that when that gives out, gravity will overwhelm the star.
- They they they tasered Jackie Hawks as they as they physically overwhelmed her husband.
- Then we're going to overwhelm the Greek democracies with incredible numbers, right?
Examples
-
Despite their valiant efforts, the Rangers are being overwhelmed by the fierce combatants.
Fiction book (1995) -
It would completely overwhelm our facilities.
-
You expect them to band together and overwhelm me?
-
Cell phone systems are soon overwhelmed and calls cannot go through.
-
In 2008, a remote Russian missile station was overwhelmed and held for a week.
-
Enraged French soldiers storm the breach and overwhelm the defenders.
-
Over the past four decades, the U.S. apparel industry has been overwhelmed by this global low-wage competition.
Academic text (2002) -
Syrian farmers and herders left their homes, swamped the cities, overwhelmed the infrastructure.
-
Without their natural control mechanisms, deer populations multiplied and threatened to overwhelm the canyon's fragile and limited resources.
Academic text (2012) -
The army launched a surprise attack to overwhelm the enemy forces.
Synonyms
99
7.2
Beat someone or something completely in a conflict
51
3.8
To use more strength to defeat and control a person or thing
12
6.5
Push a plan or idea through by ignoring other people's views
9
5.8
To win against someone or something that tries to stop you
7
3.7
Defeat an opponent completely and easily
2
9.9
To feel a very strong emotion that takes control of you
2
6.8
To surprise and beat someone or something by a large amount
1
9.0
Hit someone many times until they are badly hurt
1
7.4
To push a plan through while ignoring others' objections
1
8.2
To make someone feel small or afraid by showing great power
1
9.6
To hit, defeat, or work very hard at something using a lot of force
1
9.1
To defeat and control someone or something completely
1
9.7
To beat someone by a very large amount in a game or contest
Defeat an opponent easily in a game or contest
How Defeated
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Overwhelm comes from over- meaning 'over' and the old word whelm meaning 'to cover' or 'push down', like a wave that knocks things over. So, to overwhelm an enemy is to overpower them completely, as if you push them down with greater force.