overwhelmed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelmed by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is feeling a strong emotion due to a situation or experience. For example, you could say "I was overwhelmed by the beautiful sunset I saw at the beach last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She was overwhelmed by condolences.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was overwhelmed by emotion.

The Guardian

overwhelmed by waves.

The New Yorker

They feel overwhelmed by life.

University of California, Berkeley

She felt overwhelmed by the hunt.

The New York Times

I was overwhelmed by her vulnerability.

The New York Times

The screenplay is overwhelmed by exposition.

The Guardian - Film

Without being overwhelmed by it.

Columbia University

Who wouldn't be overwhelmed by Mr. Ortega?

The New York Times - Arts

He was overwhelmed by the experience.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I was just overwhelmed by emotion.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelmed by" to clearly convey a strong emotional or sensory experience. Ensure the subject experiencing the feeling and the cause are clearly defined in your sentence. For example: "She was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape."

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelmed by" to describe mild or insignificant situations. The phrase suggests a significant emotional or sensory impact, so reserve it for genuinely impactful scenarios. Instead of "I was overwhelmed by the long line at the coffee shop", try "I was annoyed by the long line at the coffee shop."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelmed by" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, describing the state of being overcome or deeply affected by something. It is typically used to indicate a strong emotional or sensory impact on a subject. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overwhelmed by" is a versatile phrase used to express a strong feeling or experience. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and common across various contexts, especially in News & Media. It functions as a predicate adjective, indicating a state of being profoundly affected, and it's best used to describe situations with significant emotional or sensory impact. Remember to avoid misusing it for minor inconveniences. Alternatives include "consumed by" and "overcome by", offering subtle variations in meaning. Using the tool can provide further context and examples to refine your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overcome by

Suggests a struggle and eventual surrender to a feeling.

engulfed by

Conveys a sense of being completely surrounded and overtaken.

consumed by

Focuses on being completely taken over by a feeling or thought.

inundated with

Emphasizes a large quantity or volume causing the feeling.

flooded with

Similar to inundated, but with a stronger sense of being overwhelmed by quantity.

swamped by

Similar to inundated, indicating being overwhelmed by too much of something.

affected by

A more general term for being influenced or impacted.

gripped by

Implies a sudden and powerful emotional effect.

burdened by

Highlights the heavy or oppressive nature of the feeling.

dominated by

Suggests being controlled or influenced by something powerful.

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelmed by" in a sentence?

Use "overwhelmed by" to describe a state of being overcome with a strong emotion, sensation, or amount of something. For example, "I was "overwhelmed by" the kindness of strangers" or "The city was "overwhelmed by" the floodwaters".

What are some alternatives to "overwhelmed by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "consumed by", "affected by", or "overcome by" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it correct to say "overwhelmed with" instead of "overwhelmed by"?

While "overwhelmed by" is more commonly used and generally preferred, "overwhelmed with" can be appropriate when referring to being burdened with a large amount of something tangible, such as being "overwhelmed with paperwork". In most cases, "overwhelmed by" is the better choice.

What does it mean to be "overwhelmed by" something?

To be ""overwhelmed by"" something means to be overcome by a strong feeling, sensation, or amount of something that is difficult to manage or cope with. It suggests a state of being intensely affected or burdened.