overwhelming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'overwhelming' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of being overcome by a powerful force or emotion, such as excitement or joy. Example sentence: When I saw the beautiful landscape, I was overwhelmed by its beauty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Books

UK News

Politics

Sports

Education

Lifestyle

Travel

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At times the level of support and goodwill, locally and beyond, is overwhelming.

The Guardian - Books

He also pointed to a new tripwire saying: "People will be looking at Mariupol as the next potential flashpoint, and if that were to happen I think the argument for further action would be overwhelming.

The Guardian

But the support I had from family, friends and colleagues was overwhelming.

The Guardian - Opinion

He also thanked the local community for helping with the search, describing it as "overwhelming".

The Guardian

It also claimed the amount of information released would be "overwhelming".

The Guardian

"The response was overwhelming.

The New York Times - Sports

He added: "The evidence for that is overwhelming".

The Guardian

The equal marriage bill was given an overwhelming second reading by 400 votes to 175, a majority of 225.

The Guardian

"The latest version of Prevent maintains the overwhelming focus on Muslims.

The Guardian

"I am just so grateful to everyone in the Liberal and National parties who have supported my campaign, to Tony Abbott, I repeat my overwhelming thanks for his selfless generosity and mentorship".

The Guardian

He then seemed to include the overwhelming favourite for the Democratic nomination, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in that "billionaire class".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming" to describe situations or feelings that are powerful and all-encompassing. It's effective for conveying the magnitude of something, whether positive or negative.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming" for situations that are merely slightly challenging or busy. Reserve it for truly significant or intense experiences to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "overwhelming" primarily functions to describe something that is so powerful or intense as to be difficult to resist or cope with. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Opinion

5%

Books

2%

Less common in

Sports

2%

Education

2%

Lifestyle

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "overwhelming" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term to describe situations, feelings, or experiences that are intensely powerful or all-encompassing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. While its register varies, it is frequently found in news and media contexts, conveying a sense of magnitude or intensity. When using "overwhelming", it's best to reserve it for truly significant instances to maintain its impact and avoid overuse. Alternatives such as "staggering" or "crushing" can add nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overpowering

Directly relates to having more power or force than something else.

staggering

Focuses on the surprising or shocking aspect of something being overpowering.

intense

Indicates a high degree of strength or feeling.

crushing

Emphasizes the forceful and potentially negative impact of being overwhelmed.

irresistible

Implies that something is so powerful it cannot be resisted.

tremendous

Emphasizes the great size or scale of something.

formidable

Highlights the strength and difficulty in facing something overwhelming.

profound

Highlights the depth and significance of the experience.

uncontrollable

Focuses on the inability to manage or restrain something.

insurmountable

Suggests that something is too great to be overcome.

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelming" in a sentence?

You can use "overwhelming" to describe something that is overpowering or very intense. For example, "The support was "overwhelming"" or "The task seemed "daunting" and "overwhelming" at first.

What's the difference between "overwhelming" and "underwhelming"?

"Overwhelming" describes something that is overpowering or intense, while "underwhelming" describes something that is disappointing because it is less impressive than expected.

What can I say instead of "overwhelming" to describe a positive experience?

You can use alternatives like "staggering", "thrilling", or "exhilarating" depending on the context.

What's a common mistake when using the word "overwhelming"?

A common mistake is to use "overwhelming" to describe everyday challenges that aren't truly significant. Save it for situations that genuinely evoke a sense of being overpowered or deeply affected.