The word "overwhelmed" can be confusing to spell phonetically. Its pronunciation is /ˌoʊvərˈhwɛlmd/ (oh-vur-hwelm-d). The first syllable "over" is pronounced as in "overcoat." The second syllable "whelm" is pronounced with the "hw" sound, as in "wheat," followed by the "eh" sound, as in "let." Finally, the third syllable "med" is pronounced like "medal." This word can mean feeling an intense emotion or being completely submerged or defeated. With the correct IPA transcription, spelling "overwhelmed" should be less of a daunting task.
Overwhelmed is an adjective that refers to a state of being completely overcome or overpowered, typically by an excessive amount of something, whether it be emotions, tasks, responsibilities, or any other overwhelming force. It conveys a sense of being heavily burdened or feeling unable to cope with the current circumstances.
When someone is overwhelmed, they may experience feelings of being suffocated, crushed, or weighed down by the magnitude or intensity of a situation. They may feel mentally or emotionally drained, as if they are being inundated with an excessive amount of stimuli or demands that surpass their capacity to manage effectively. This can lead to a sense of helplessness, exhaustion, or an inability to make decisions or take action.
Being overwhelmed can manifest in various ways, such as feeling anxious, stressed, or paralyzed by the pressure of unfinished tasks, conflicting obligations, or unpredictable situations. It can also stem from a sudden and unexpected flood of emotions that surpasses one's ability to process or control.
In summary, overwhelmed describes a state of being utterly overpowered, burdened, or incapacitated by the sheer magnitude or intensity of a given situation. It reflects the feeling of being unable to manage or cope with the demands, responsibilities, or emotions that surpass an individual's capacity to handle effectively.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "overwhelmed" originates from the Middle English term "ouerwhelmen", which is a combination of the prefix "ouer" (meaning "over" or "beyond") and the verb "whelmen" (meaning "to turn over" or "to overthrow"). The term "whelmen" itself is derived from the Old English word "hwelfan" (meaning "to cover" or "to engulf"). Over time, "ouerwhelmen" evolved and was later shortened to "overwhelm", retaining its sense of being completely covered or overpowered by something.