an overwhelming feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overwhelming feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong emotional response or sensation that is difficult to manage or control. Example: "After hearing the news, I was hit by an overwhelming feeling of sadness that I couldn't shake off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was definitely an overwhelming feeling.

The New York Times - Sports

(He says he had an "overwhelming feeling" that he "had to go back and help").

The New York Times

"I just had an overwhelming feeling that what Ford had done was wrong," Kearns says.

The New Yorker

"I remember an overwhelming feeling of not making any sense of anything around me," she says.

Independent

"It's an overwhelming feeling — I'm not really sure how to explain it".

The New Yorker

And now, with an overwhelming feeling of liberation, he removed his shades, too.

The New Yorker

It's an overwhelming feeling to hold your grandson in your hands.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

'There was an overwhelming feeling of elation and gratitude,' recalls Ottmar Walter.

The Guardian - Sport

But there is an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, knowing we'll probably never find the real truth.

The Guardian

Mr. Dowdell said its "beautiful looking" food created an overwhelming "feeling of abundance".

The New York Times

Councillor Nigel Howells said there was an overwhelming feeling of opposition from local residents.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overwhelming feeling" to vividly describe moments of intense emotional or sensory experience, capturing the magnitude of the sensation. For example, "She was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude after receiving the award."

Common error

Don't use "an overwhelming feeling" to describe mild or commonplace emotions. This diminishes its impact. Reserve it for situations where the intensity of the feeling is genuinely exceptional, or the reader will perceive it as an exaggeration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming feeling" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes a strong emotional or sensory experience. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming feeling" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe intense emotional or sensory experiences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media, formal business communication and scientific writing, where it effectively conveys the magnitude and impact of emotions like joy, gratitude, despair or dread. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants its intensity to avoid exaggeration. Consider alternatives like "intense feeling" or "powerful emotion" for less dramatic situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an irresistible feeling

Emphasizes the compelling nature of the feeling, making it difficult to ignore or resist.

an intense feeling

Highlights the high degree of emotion experienced.

a profound feeling

Suggests the feeling is deep and significant, having a lasting impact.

a powerful emotion

Focuses on the strength and force of the emotion.

a wave of emotion

Implies a sudden and encompassing experience of feeling.

a strong sense of

Shifts the focus to a general awareness or perception, rather than a specific emotion.

a deep-seated feeling

Suggests the feeling is deeply rooted and difficult to change.

an all-consuming feeling

Indicates the feeling dominates one's thoughts and actions.

a gut feeling

Highlights an intuitive feeling, often based on instinct rather than reason.

a palpable sense of

Conveys that the feeling is so strong it can almost be physically felt by others.

FAQs

How can I use "an overwhelming feeling" in a sentence?

Use "an overwhelming feeling" to describe a situation where a strong emotion or sensation is experienced. For example, "He had "an overwhelming feeling" of joy when he saw his family after many years".

What are some alternatives to "an overwhelming feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "intense feeling", "powerful emotion", or "profound sense" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a overwhelming feeling" instead of "an overwhelming feeling"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The indefinite article "an" should be used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "overwhelming". Therefore, the correct phrase is ""an overwhelming feeling"".

What's the difference between "an overwhelming feeling" and "an intense feeling"?

While both phrases describe strong emotions, ""an overwhelming feeling"" suggests that the emotion is so powerful it's difficult to manage or control. "An intense feeling" simply implies a high degree of emotion without necessarily implying a loss of control.