v. 25B6; verb
advancing sand dunes could overwhelm the village : SWAMP, submerge, engulf, bury, deluge, flood, inundate.
Spain overwhelmed Russia in the hockey : DEFEAT (UTTERLY/HEAVILY), trounce, rout, beat (hollow), conquer, vanquish, be victorious over, triumph over, worst, overcome, overthrow, crush; informal thrash, lick, best, clobber, wipe the floor with.
she was overwhelmed by a sense of tragedy : OVERCOME, move, stir, affect, touch, strike, dumbfound, shake, devastate, leave speechless; informal bowl over, floor, knock sideways; Brit. informal knock/hit for six.