inundate
7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for inundate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To give someone far more of something than they can deal with, usually requests, messages or work.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To give someone far more of something than they can deal with, usually requests, messages or work.
“The helpline was inundated with calls after the broadcast.”
How to use inundate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
inundated with requests
inundated with calls
inundated by emails
inundated fields
Very often passive: 'we were inundated with…'.
Etymology
From Latin inundare 'to overflow', from in- 'into' plus unda 'wave'.
Full origin of inundate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between inundate and overwhelm?
Overwhelm is broader and can describe emotions, forces or defeat. Inundate keeps its flooding metaphor and is used mainly for a sheer volume of things arriving, such as calls, emails or water.
Is inundate only about water?
No. The literal flooding sense still exists, but in modern English the figurative sense of being swamped with demands or messages is far more common.
Do you say inundated with or inundated by?
Both are correct. 'Inundated with' is the usual choice for messages, requests and work, while 'inundated by' fits actual water and large forces slightly better.
