overwhelm
To affect someone so strongly that they can hardly cope.
overwhelm in a sentence
- The kindness of the whole class overwhelmed Maya, and happy tears rolled down her cheeks.
- Do not let the huge menu overwhelm you; just pick the first pudding you like.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to overwhelm?
- Aswamp
- Bsoothe
- Ccalm
- Dcomfort
Show the answer
A: swamp. The other three mean the opposite of overwhelm.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to overwhelm?
- Aflood
- Bswamp
- Ccrush
- Dcalm
Show the answer
D: calm. The other three mean nearly the same as overwhelm.
Words that mean something similar
swamp, flood, crush
Words that mean the opposite
calm, soothe, comfort
More words about emotions & feelings
- pacify: To make someone calm when they are angry or upset.
- pessimistic: Expecting the worst to happen.
- petrified: So frightened that you cannot move.
- plight: A sad or difficult situation someone is stuck in.
- qualm: A worried feeling that what you are doing might be wrong.
- ravenous: Extremely hungry, and ready to eat greedily.
- reassure: To comfort someone and make them feel less worried.
- rejoice: To feel or show great happiness.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test