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Overwhelming

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o⋅ver⋅whelm⋅ing

  [oh-ver-hwel-ming, -wel-]
Use Overwhelming in a Sentence
–adjective
1. that overwhelms; overpowering: The temptation to despair may become overwhelming.
2. so great as to render resistance or opposition useless: an overwhelming majority.
Origin:
1565–75; overwhelm + -ing 2

Related forms:
o⋅ver⋅whelm⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
o⋅ver⋅whelm⋅ing⋅ness, noun
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o⋅ver⋅whelm

  [oh-ver-hwelm, -welm]
–verb (used with object)
1. to overcome completely in mind or feeling: overwhelmed by remorse.
2. to overpower or overcome, esp. with superior forces; destroy; crush: Roman troops were overwhelmed by barbarians.
3. to cover or bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche; submerge: Lava from erupting Vesuvius overwhelmed the city of Pompeii.
4. to load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything: a child overwhelmed with presents; to overwhelm someone with questions.
5. to overthrow.
Origin:
1300–50; ME; see over-, whelm
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Overwhelming
o·ver·whelm   (ō'vər-hwělm', -wělm')   
tr.v.   o·ver·whelmed, o·ver·whelm·ing, o·ver·whelms

  1. To surge over and submerge; engulf: waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline.

    1. To defeat completely and decisively: Our team overwhelmed the visitors by 40 points.

    2. To affect deeply in mind or emotion: Despair overwhelmed me.

  3. To present with an excessive amount: They overwhelmed us with expensive gifts.

  4. To turn over; upset: The small craft was overwhelmed by the enormous waves.

o·ver·whelm·ing   (ō'vər-hwěl'mĭng, -wěl'-)   
adj.  Overpowering in effect or strength: overwhelming joy; an overwhelming majority.
o'ver·whelm'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

overwhelm 
c.1330, "to turn upside down, to overthrow," from over + M.E. whelmen "to turn upside down" (see whelm). Meaning "to submerge completely" is c.1450. Perhaps the connecting notion is a boat, etc., washed over, and overset, by a big wave. Fig. sense of "to bring to ruin" is attested from 1529.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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