Synonyms in Detail: whelmed and overwhelm Usage & Differences

What context can I use each word in?

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

whelmed

Example

I was whelmed by the movie, it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. [whelmed: past tense]

Example

She felt whelmed with gratitude for the support she received. [whelmed: adjective]

overwhelm

Example

The sheer number of emails in my inbox overwhelmed me. [overwhelmed: past tense]

Example

She was overwhelmed with emotion when she received the award. [overwhelmed: adjective]

Good things to know

Which word is more common?

Overwhelm is more commonly used than whelmed in everyday language. Overwhelm is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while whelmed is less common and refers to a balanced emotional state.

Whatโ€™s the difference in the tone of formality between whelmed and overwhelm?

Whelmed is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, while overwhelm can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.

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