Words / C1

ohv-uh-WELM/ˌəʊvəˈwelm/

To overwhelm is to swamp someone so they cannot cope, or to defeat utterly: overwhelmed by email, an overwhelming majority. Overpower is physical force; swamp is everyday metaphor. Overwhelming is the adjective. Do not use it for a mildly busy Tuesday.

Meaning

To have such a strong effect that someone cannot cope; also to defeat completely.

Examples

• “A 400-page dump overwhelmed the panel the night before the visit.”
• “A 400-page dump the night before overwhelmed a three-person panel.”
• “Swamp is the everyday metaphor. Overpower a lock is force. Overwhelming evidence is the adjective. A normal inbox is not overwhelmed; a flood is.”

Good to know

Swamp; be too much to handle. Adjective: overwhelming. Everyday: swamp. Physical cousin: overpower. Save it for a real flood, not a busy day.

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