overwhelmed

[oh-ver-hwelmd, -welmd]

adjective

1. completely overcome in mind or feeling.

   She told the overwhelmed and sobbing mother she would take care of all medical expenses.

2. loaded, filled, or addressed with an excessive amount of anything.

   Over 100 dogs were transported to other parts of the state from overwhelmed animal shelters on the coast.

3. overpowered or crushed, as by superior forces.

   The aim of the coalition's operation was to stop the dictator and his army from attacking already overwhelmed rebel troops.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of overwhelm.

Other Word Forms

• unoverwhelmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwhelmed¹

overwhelm ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

After the operations, Hopper had been "totally overwhelmed by support from friends and family which made it even more difficult to tell them what had really happened".

From BBC

Denise Fowler, chief executive of PCH, says the housing association was "overwhelmed" with people wanting to live there and is hoping to extend the scheme further.

From BBC

Sherman said he feared his troops would be pushed into confrontations with civilians if Border Patrol became overwhelmed by the crowds on that June Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times

The move could appeal to consumers who feel overwhelmed by the different streaming choices and give them a chance to sample what each platform offers without dealing with additional cost.

From Los Angeles Times

Survivors have been brought to a hospital in Jalalabad, which was being overwhelmed with hundreds of patients a day even before the disaster.

From BBC

Related Words

• affected 
• devastated 
• moved 
• overpowered www.thesaurus.com