adj
Common
overwhelmed
oh-vuh-WEHLMD
Overwhelmed (adj) means Completely overcome by emotion, work, or difficulty, to the point of struggling to cope. Example: “New parents often feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks.”
adj
1
Completely overcome by emotion, work, or difficulty, to the point of struggling to cope.
"New parents often feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks."
"He was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of paperwork."
"I felt completely overwhelmed when three deadlines landed on the same day."
How to use overwhelmed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo affected by something that you can barely cope with it.
Common pairings
feel overwhelmed
completely overwhelmed
overwhelmed with gratitude
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more overwhelmed
- Superlative
- most overwhelmed
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New parents often feel _____ in the first few weeks.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “overwhelmed” mean?
The word “overwhelmed” means completely overcome by emotion, work, or difficulty, to the point of struggling to cope. In plain terms, so affected by something that you can barely cope with it.
How do you pronounce “overwhelmed”?
“Overwhelmed” is pronounced oh-vuh-WEHLMD (/ˌoʊvɚˈ(h)wɛlmd/ in IPA).
How do you use “overwhelmed” in a sentence?
Here is “overwhelmed” used in a sentence: “New parents often feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks.”
What part of speech is “overwhelmed”?
“Overwhelmed” is an adjective.
Is “overwhelmed” a common word?
“Overwhelmed” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between overwhelmed and stressed?
Being stressed means feeling pressure or tension, while being overwhelmed means being so overcome by emotion, work, or difficulty that you struggle to cope. Overwhelmed describes a more intense state where the demands exceed what you can manage.
What is the difference between overwhelmed and underwhelmed?
Overwhelmed means completely overcome by emotion, work, or difficulty, whereas underwhelmed means disappointed by something that failed to impress. They are near-opposites, and the plain form 'whelmed' is rarely used on its own.
What prepositions are used with overwhelmed?
You are usually overwhelmed 'by' or 'with' something, as in 'overwhelmed by grief' or 'overwhelmed with work.' Both are correct, though 'by' often suits emotions and sudden events while 'with' often suits a quantity of tasks.
Is overwhelmed always negative?
Not always. While overwhelmed often describes struggling to cope with work or difficulty, it can also describe being overcome by a positive emotion, as in 'overwhelmed by joy' or 'overwhelmed with gratitude.' The context decides whether it is negative or positive.
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