whelming

verb

present participle of whelm
as in overwhelming
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelming
  1. overwhelming
  2. devastating
  3. overcoming
Verb
  • Rather than overwhelming your child with a long list of feelings, start with the basics.
    — Jenna Autuori-Dedic, Parents, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Could Cape Verde turn its sudden global fame into tourism that benefits the islands without overwhelming the places already under pressure?
    — Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • Lionel Messi has donated €80,000 ($92,200) to the reconstruction efforts of Madrid’s Sierra Oeste region following devastating wildfires in the area.
    — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities in Washington have arrested a man for arson in connection with one of the major wildfires devastating the eastern part of the state, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to flee.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • Beyond his fighting career, McGee is celebrated for his inspirational journey of overcoming drug addiction, having been sober for over two decades.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But he’ll best be known for overcoming a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, suffered in 1974.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcoming
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Whelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelming. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whelming

Nglish: Translation of whelming for Spanish Speakers

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