What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
insurmountable
Example
The task of climbing Mount Everest seemed insurmountable to the inexperienced climbers. [insurmountable: adjective]
Example
The company faced an insurmountable challenge when their main supplier went bankrupt. [insurmountable: noun]
overwhelming
Example
The athlete felt an overwhelming sense of pride and joy after winning the gold medal. [overwhelming: adjective]
Example
The new employee found the workload overwhelming and struggled to keep up. [overwhelming: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overwhelming is more commonly used than insurmountable in everyday language, due to its versatility and broader scope of usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between insurmountable and overwhelming?
Both insurmountable and overwhelming are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional contexts. However, insurmountable may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.
