whelmed

verb

past tense of whelm
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress the news so whelmed them that they were stunned into silence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whelmed Of all the underwhelming parts of this underwhelming finale of an underwhelming season, the final immunity challenge did not leave me whelmed. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025 As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. — Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelmed
  1. overwhelmed
  2. devastated
Verb
  • The wait times also help ensure that the site doesn’t get overwhelmed by demand.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Abrams was able to return to the song without being overwhelmed by the feelings that came with writing it.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelmed
Verb
  • Family members declined to speak on camera but told CBS News Miami they are devastated by the incident.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Daniel Vaz De Melo Sa, business development manager for Guidoni USA, said the flood of imports devastated operations at the company’s site in McRae, Georgia.
    — Bloomberg News, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastated

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Cite this Entry

“Whelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelmed. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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