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Adjective: overwhelming  ,ow-vu(r)'wel-ming
  1. So strong as to be irresistible
    "the temptation to despair may become overwhelming"; "an overwhelming majority";
    - overpowering
     
  2. Very strong; urgently felt
    "overwhelming joy";
    - consuming
Verb: overwhelm  ,ow-vu(r)'welm
  1. Become filled with uncontrollable emotion or too much sensory input
    - overpower, sweep over, overcome, overtake
     
  2. Charge someone with too many tasks
    - deluge, flood out
     
  3. Cover completely or make imperceptible
    - submerge, drown
     
  4. Overcome by superior force
    - overpower, overmaster

See also: drown out, intense, irresistible, resistless

Type of: arouse, beat, beat out, burden, charge, cover, crush, elicit, enkindle [literary], evoke, fire, kindle, lumber [Brit, informal], provoke, raise, saddle, shell, spread over, trounce, vanquish

Encyclopedia: Overwhelming