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Overwhelm vs Abash - What's the difference?

overwhelm | abash | Related terms |

Overwhelm is a related term of abash.


As verbs the difference between overwhelm and abash

is that overwhelm is to engulf, surge over and submerge while abash is to make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit .

overwhelm

English

Verb

  • To engulf, surge over and submerge.
    • The dinghy was overwhelmed by the great wave.
  • To overpower, crush.
    • In December 1939 the Soviet Union attacked Finland with overwhelming force.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxxviii. 53
    • The sea overwhelmed their enemies.
  • To overpower emotionally.
    • He was overwhelmed with guilt.
    Joy overwhelmed her when she realized that she had won a million dollars.
  • To cause to surround, to cover.
    • (Papin)

    Derived terms

    * overwhelming

    Related terms

    * whelm

    See also

    * too many balls in the air

    abash

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit.
    • "He was a man whom no check could abash ." – .
  • (obsolete) To lose self-possession; to become ashamed.

    • Usage notes

    * Of abash, confuse, confound: Abash' is a stronger word than '''confuse''', but not so strong as ' confound . ** We are abashed'' when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was ''abashed'' by the look of his Master. So a modest youth is ''abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors. ** We are confused'' when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often ''confused'' by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be ''confused in entering a room full of strangers. ** We are confounded'' when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually ''confounded at the discovery of his guilt. *::* Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. – John Milton

    Synonyms

    * confuse * confound * disconcert * shame * humiliate * embarrass * See also

    Antonyms

    * embolden * reassure

    Derived terms

    * abashed * abashedly * abashedness * abashless * abashment

    Anagrams

    * *

    References