overwhelming
oh-vuh-WEHL-mihng
Overwhelming (adj) means So strong, large, or intense that it is hard to resist or cope with. Example: “The overwhelming majority of the students chose to stay for the extra lesson.”
adj
1
So strong, large, or intense that it is hard to resist or cope with.
"The overwhelming majority of the students chose to stay for the extra lesson."
"There was overwhelming evidence against the defendant."
"She felt an overwhelming urge to cry."
How to use overwhelming
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely strong or intense, to the point of taking over completely.
Common pairings
overwhelming majority
overwhelming evidence
overwhelming support
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Word forms
- Plural
- overwhelmings
- Comparative
- more overwhelming
- Superlative
- most overwhelming
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The _____ majority of the students chose to stay for the extra lesson.
Etymology
Formed from overwhelm + -ing.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “overwhelming” mean?
The word “overwhelming” means so strong, large, or intense that it is hard to resist or cope with. In plain terms, extremely strong or intense, to the point of taking over completely.
How do you pronounce “overwhelming”?
“Overwhelming” is pronounced oh-vuh-WEHL-mihng (/ˌoʊvɚˈ(h)wɛlmɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “overwhelming” in a sentence?
Here is “overwhelming” used in a sentence: “There was overwhelming evidence against the defendant.”
What is another word for “overwhelming”?
Words with a similar meaning to “overwhelming” include ravishing and sweeping.
What is the opposite of “overwhelming”?
The opposite of “overwhelming” — its antonyms — is underwhelming.
What part of speech is “overwhelming”?
“Overwhelming” is an adjective.
Is “overwhelming” a common word?
“Overwhelming” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between overwhelming and overpowering?
Both describe something so strong that it is hard to resist, and they often overlap. Overpowering is more common for physical forces and sensations, such as smells or heat, while overwhelming is the usual choice for emotions, workloads, and quantities, as in "an overwhelming sense of relief."
Is overwhelming always negative?
No. Although overwhelming describes something so strong, large, or intense that it is hard to cope with, it is frequently positive, as in "overwhelming support" or "an overwhelming victory." The word signals sheer scale or intensity rather than a good or bad outcome.
What is the difference between overwhelming and underwhelming?
Overwhelming means so strong, large, or intense that it is hard to resist or cope with. Underwhelming, modelled on overwhelming as its opposite, means failing to impress or falling short of expectations. A response can be overwhelming in scale or underwhelming in its weakness, but not both.
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