/ ˌəʊvəˈwelm; NAmE ˌoʊvərˈw-/ verb [ vn ] [ often passive ]
1.
to have such a strong emotional effect on sb that it is difficult for them to resist or know how to react
SYN overcome :
She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.
The beauty of the landscape overwhelmed me.
2.
to defeat sb completely
SYN overpower :
The army was overwhelmed by the rebels.
3.
to be so bad or so great that a person cannot deal with it; to give too much of a thing to a person :
We were overwhelmed by requests for information.
4.
( literary ) ( of water ) to cover sb/sth completely
SYN flood