Meaning & use
overwhelming
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
So strong or large that it is hard to deal with or resist.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: an overwhelming feeling; the noise was overwhelming.
The workload felt overwhelming.
She felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
The smell of flowers was overwhelming.
adjectivebefore a noun
Very large in number or amount, so that it clearly decides the result.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: an overwhelming majority.
The proposal won by an overwhelming majority.
There is overwhelming evidence that the plan works.
Word forms
| comparative | more overwhelming |
|---|---|
| superlative | most overwhelming |
Common combinations
- overwhelming majority
- An overwhelming majority voted yes.
- overwhelming evidence
- The evidence was overwhelming.
- overwhelming response
- The charity got an overwhelming response.
- feel overwhelming
- Grief can feel overwhelming.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overpowering
- Overpowering is often used for smells and emotions that dominate.
- crushing
- Crushing usually describes negative, heavy defeat or burden.
- huge
- Huge describes only size, without difficulty coping.
Opposites
Word family
- overwhelm verb
- to defeat or affect very strongly
- overwhelmingly adverb
- to a very great extent
- overwhelmed adjective
- feeling unable to cope
Commonly confused: overwhelming or overwhelmed?
overwhelming vs overwhelmed
Overwhelmed describes the person affected; overwhelming describes the thing causing it.
Practice
The support from fans was ______, and she cried.
Choose one answer.
The adjective overwhelming describes the support. Overwhelmed describes a person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overwhelming”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.