whelm

tr.v., whelmed, whelm·ing, whelms.

1. To cover with water; submerge.
2. To overwhelm.

[Middle English whelmen, to overturn, probably alteration (influenced by helmen, to cover) of whelven, from Old English -hwelfan (as in āhwelfan, to cover over).]

verb

1. To flow over completely: deluge, drown, engulf, flood, flush, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge. See full/empty/capacity.
2. To affect as if by an outpouring of water: deluge, flood, inundate, overwhelm, swamp. See full/empty/capacity.

to cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect, destroy, overpower; hence, whelming : overwhelming

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
  Synonyms: overwhelm, overpower, sweep over, overcome, overtake

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