overwhelm
UK: /ˌəʊvəˈwelm/ | US: /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/
vt. 1. To bury or drown beneath a huge mass of something (e.g., water, work, emotions).
vt. 2. To defeat or overpower completely.
vt. 3. To cause someone to feel intense emotional or mental strain.
overwhelm = over<above/excess> + whelm<cover/submerge>
- over: From Old English ofer, meaning "above, beyond, or excessively."
- whelm: From Old English -hwelfan (to cover or overturn), related to helan (to hide). Historically, "whelm" alone meant "to engulf" (now archaic).
Etymology Origin:
The word emerged in Middle English as overwhelmen, combining "over" (intensifying action) and "whelm" (to submerge). Originally describing literal flooding, it later expanded metaphorically to emotional or situational dominance. The loss of standalone "whelm" in modern English makes "overwhelm" seem like a fused unit, but its roots vividly depict "covering from above."
The floodwaters threatened to overwhelm the village.
She felt overwhelmed by the workload before the deadline.
The team’s defense was overwhelmed by the opponent’s aggressive plays.
His kindness overwhelmed her, bringing tears to her eyes.
The sudden fame overwhelmed the young artist.