What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overpowering
Example
The overpowering smell of the flowers made me feel nauseous. [overpowering: adjective]
Example
The boxer was able to overpower his opponent with his strength and skill. [overpower: verb]
Example
Her fear of spiders was so overpowering that she couldn't even enter the room. [overpowering: adjective]
overwhelming
Example
The overwhelming number of emails in my inbox made me feel stressed. [overwhelming: adjective]
Example
I felt an overwhelming sense of joy when I saw my family after a long time. [overwhelming: adjective]
Example
The task of organizing the event was overwhelming, but we managed to get it done. [overwhelming: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overwhelming is more commonly used than overpowering in everyday language. Overwhelming is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overpowering is less common and often used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overpowering and overwhelming?
Both overpowering and overwhelming can be used in formal and informal contexts, but overwhelming is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations and tones.
