Overwhelm \O`ver*whelm"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Overwhelmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Overwhelming.]

[1913 Webster]

1. To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow and bury beneath; to ingulf; hence, figuratively, to immerse and bear down; to overpower; to crush; to bury; to oppress, etc., overpoweringly. [1913 Webster]

The sea overwhelmed their enemies. --Ps. lxxviii. 53. [1913 Webster]

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. --Ps. lv. 5. [1913 Webster]

Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Gaza yet stands; but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. To project or impend over threateningly. [1913 Webster]

His louering brows o'erwhelming his fair sight. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To cause to surround, to cover. --Papin. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

overwhelmed \overwhelmed\ adj.

1. same as overpowered.

Syn: overcome, overpowered, swamped, engulfed. [WordNet 1.5]

2. defeated easily by a greatly superior opponent.

Syn: routed. [WordNet 1.5]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

119 Moby Thesaurus words for "overwhelmed": afloat, agape, aghast, agog, all agog, all up with, amazed, astonished, astounded, at flood, at gaze, awash, awed, awestruck, beat, beaten, beguiled, bested, bewildered, bewitched, breathless, broken-down, brokenhearted, captivated, confounded, crushed, cut up, defeated, deluged, desolated, discomfited, dismayed, done for, done in, down, drowned, dumbfounded, dumbstruck, enchanted, engulfed, enraptured, enravished, enthralled, entranced, fallen, fascinated, fixed, flabbergasted, flooded, floored, gaping, gauping, gazing, heart-stricken, heart-struck, heartbroken, hors de combat, hypnotized, in awe, in awe of, in spate, inflood, inundated, lambasted, lathered, licked, lost in wonder, marveling, mesmerized, on the skids, open-eyed, openmouthed, outdone, overborne, overcome, overexcited, overmastered, overmatched, overpowered, overridden, overthrown, overturned, overwrought, panicked, popeyed, put to rout, puzzled, rapt in wonder, routed, ruined, scattered, settled, shocked, silenced, skinned, skinned alive, spellbound, staggered, stampeded, staring, stricken, stupefied, surprised, swamped, swept, thunderstruck, trimmed, trounced, under a charm, undone, upset, washed, water-washed, whelmed, whipped, wide-eyed, wonder-struck, wondering, worsted

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

overwhelmed adj : rendered powerless especially by an excessive amount or profusion of something; "a desk flooded with applications"; "felt inundated with work"; "too much overcome to notice"; "a man engulfed by fear"; "swamped by work" [syn: flooded, inundated, overcome, overpowered, swamped, engulfed]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Overwhelm \O`ver*whelm"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Overwhelmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Overwhelming.]

1. To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow and bury beneath; to ingulf; hence, figuratively, to immerse and bear down; to overpower; to crush; to bury; to oppress, etc., overpoweringly.

The sea overwhelmed their enemies. --Ps. lxxviii. 53.

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. --Ps. lv. 5.

Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them. --Shak.

Gaza yet stands; but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. --Milton.

2. To project or impend over threateningly.

His louering brows o'erwhelming his fair sight. --Shak.

3. To cause to surround, to cover. --Papin.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)