overwhelmed
/ˌoʊ.vərˈwɛlmd/adjective★Intermediate— feeling too much pressure or emotion to cope
informal
Feeling too much pressure, emotion, or responsibility to handle
The new parent felt overwhelmed by the baby's constant crying.
The new parent struggled to cope with the baby's constant crying.
The student was overwhelmed by the exam schedule.
The student felt stressed by the intense exam schedule.
💡
Often used to describe emotional or situational stress.
Collocations
overwhelmed byfeeling too much pressure fromfeel overwhelmedfeel unable to cope
Antonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'overwhelmed' to describe feeling too much pressure or emotion.
⚡Gold Rule
Correct Usage
'Overwhelmed' is typically followed by 'by' when describing the source of stress.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'overwhelmen', from Old English 'oferswelmian' meaning 'to overwhelm or drown'.
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe emotional or situational stress, often in informal contexts.
Word Breakdown
over-
excessive
prefix-whelm
to turn upside down or submerge
root-ed
past participle
suffixEnglish Dictionary