WordWeb Online

1. So strong as to be irresistible
   "the temptation to despair may become overwhelming"; "an overwhelming majority";
   - overpowering
    
2. Very strong; urgently felt
   "overwhelming joy";
   - consuming

1. Become filled with uncontrollable emotion or too much sensory input
   - overpower, sweep over, overcome, overtake
    
2. Charge someone with too many tasks
   - deluge, flood out
    
3. Cover completely or make imperceptible
   - submerge, drown
    
4. Overcome by superior force
   - overpower, overmaster

See also: drown out, intense, irresistible, resistless

Type of: arouse, beat, beat out, burden, charge, cover, crush, elicit, enkindle [literary], evoke, fire, kindle, lumber [Brit, informal], provoke, raise, saddle, shell, spread over, trounce, vanquish

Encyclopedia: Overwhelming