What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Overwhelm vs Amaze - What's the difference?

overwhelm | amaze |

As verbs the difference between overwhelm and amaze

is that overwhelm is to engulf, surge over and submerge while amaze is (obsolete) to stupefy; to knock unconscious.

As a noun amaze is

.

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

    amaze

    English

    Verb

    (amaz)
  • (obsolete) To stupefy; to knock unconscious.
  • (obsolete) To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze.
  • * Shakespeare
    • a labyrinth to amaze his foes
  • (obsolete) To terrify, to fill with panic.
  • *, New York Review Books 2001, p.261:
    • [Fear] amazeth many men that are to speak or show themselves in public assemblies, or before some great personages […].
  • To fill with wonder and surprise; to astonish, astound, surprise or perplex.
    • He was amazed when he found that the girl was a robot.
  • * Bible, Matthew xii. 23
    • And all the people were amazed , and said, Is not this the son of David?
  • * Goldsmith
    • Spain has long fallen from amazing Europe with her wit, to amusing them with the greatness of her Catholic credulity.
  • To undergo amazement; to be astounded.

    • Related terms

    * amazing * amazement

    Noun

    (-)
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , I.ii:
    • All in amaze he suddenly vp start / With sword in hand, and with the old man went [...].
  • * 1891 , (Mary Noailles Murfree), In the "Stranger People's" Country , Nebraska 2005, p. 103:
    • Shattuck looked at him in amaze .
  • * 1985 , (Lawrence Durrell), Quinx'', Faber & Faber 2004 (''Avignon Quintet ), p. 1361:
    • She took the proffered cheque and stared at it with puzzled amaze , dazed by her own behaviour.