Definition

Adjective: 1. Very great in amount, degree, or intensity; so strong as to be irresistible or overpowering. This describes something so powerful or immense that it cannot be resisted or controlled. 2. Having such a great effect on someone that they feel confused or unable to react. This describes an emotional or psychological state caused by something very intense.

Usage

The adjective "overwhelming" is used to describe nouns, indicating an extreme degree. It often precedes nouns like "majority," "feeling," "sense," "evidence," "support," or "force."

Examples

• Describing a large amount or majority:

  • The proposal passed with an overwhelming majority of votes.
  • There is overwhelming evidence to support the theory.

• Describing a strong emotion or sensation:

  • She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
  • The overwhelming heat made it difficult to work outside.

• Describing something that is overpowering:

  • The overwhelming force of the hurricane caused massive damage.
  • He was struck by the overwhelming beauty of the landscape.

Advanced Usage

• "to be overwhelming": to be so intense that it dominates everything else.

  • The task of organizing the event was simply overwhelming.
  • The smell of flowers in the room was overwhelming.

• "to find something overwhelming": to experience something as being too much to handle.

  • Many new students find the workload overwhelming at first.

Variants and Related Words

• Overwhelm (verb): to bury or drown beneath a huge mass; to defeat completely; to give too much of something to someone.

  • The city was overwhelmed by floodwaters.
  • She was overwhelmed by their kindness.

• Overwhelmingly (adverb): to an overwhelming degree.

  • The motion was overwhelmingly approved.

Synonyms

• Overpowering: so strong as to be irresistible.
• Consuming: (of a feeling) very strong; dominating all else.
• Profound: very great or intense.
• Inexorable: impossible to stop or prevent.

Antonyms

• Negligible: so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.
• Manageable: able to be controlled or dealt with without great difficulty.
• Mild: not severe, serious, or harsh.

Adjective

1. very intense
   • politics is his consuming passion
   • overwhelming joy
2. so strong as to be irresistible
   • an overpowering need for solitude
   • the temptation to despair may become overwhelming
   • an overwhelming majority