overwhelmverb
uk/ˌəʊ.vəˈwelm/us/ˌoʊ.vɚˈwelm/overwhelm verb (FORCE)
[ T ] to defeat someone or something by using a lot of force:
Government troops have overwhelmed the rebels and seized control of the capital.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Winning and defeating
- annihilate
- bank
- be one in the eye for sb idiom
- beat sb at their own game idiom
- beat sb hollow idiom
- outmanoeuvre
- outpace
- outperform
- outscore
- overpower
- pip
- reel
- sew
- sweep
- trouncing
- trump
- unassailable
- unbeaten
- undefeated
- wipe
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overwhelm verb (EMOTION)
C1 [ T usually passive ] to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion:
They were overwhelmed with/by grief when their baby died.
I was overwhelmed by all the flowers and letters of support I received.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inspiring feelings in others
- amuse
- arouse
- emotive
- enthuse
- fire
- freak
- heartstrings
- inflame
- inspirational
- inspire
- invoke
- kindle
- messianic
- move
- moving
- movingly
- stirring
- touching
overwhelm verb (WATER)
[ T ] literary If water overwhelms a place, it covers it suddenly and completely.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Floods, tides & currents
- backwash
- change
- come
- current
- ebb
- eddy
- flooded
- floodgate
- flooding
- floodplain
- high water mark
- inundate
- low-water mark
- neap tide
- overfall
- undertow
- water
- waterlogged
- watermark
- whirlpool
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Enclosing, surrounding and immersing