English verb: overwhelm | |||
1. | overwhelm (emotion) overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli | ||
Synonyms | overcome, overpower, overtake, sweep over, whelm | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, provoke, raise | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | benight, clutch, devastate, get hold of, kill, knock out, lock, seize, stagger | ||
2. | overwhelm (communication) charge someone with too many tasks | ||
Synonyms | deluge, flood out | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s somebody with something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | burden, charge, saddle | ||
3. | overwhelm (contact) cover completely or make imperceptible | ||
Samples | I was drowned in work. The noise drowned out her speech. | ||
Synonyms | drown, submerge | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cover, spread over | ||
4. | overwhelm (competition) overcome by superior force | ||
Examples | The fighter managed to overwhelm his opponent | ||
Synonyms | overmaster, overpower | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | steamroll, steamroller | ||