overwhelmed
/ˌəʊ.vəˈwelmd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Feeling too much emotion, stress, or pressure to deal with something easily. It can also mean something is so strong or large that it is hard to handle.
- She felt overwhelmed after the long meeting.
- I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.
- The flood left many families overwhelmed.
Adinary Nuance
Overwhelmed is stronger than stressed and more personal than busy. Use stressed for pressure you can still manage, and overwhelmed when it feels like too much to cope with. It can describe feelings, work, or a strong reaction to kindness or beauty. In writing, it often sounds more emotional than simply tired or busy.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- quá tải
- Spanish
- abrumado
- Chinese
- 不堪重负
- Japanese
- 圧倒された
- Korean
- 압도된
Etymology
Overwhelmed comes from the verb overwhelm, first used in English in the 1400s. It combines over- and an older form of whelm, meaning to cover or turn over.
Common phrases
feel overwhelmedoverwhelmed with workoverwhelmed by emotionoverwhelmed by kindness
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is overwhelmed formal or informal?
- It is common in both speech and writing. It sounds natural in emails, reports, and everyday conversation.
- What is the difference between overwhelmed and stressed?
- Stressed means you feel pressure. Overwhelmed means the pressure or feeling is too much to handle easily.
- Can I say overwhelmed by work?
- Yes. This is a very common and natural phrase in English.
- Is overwhelmed used for good feelings too?
- Yes. People can be overwhelmed by joy, love, kindness, or beauty.