inundate
To overwhelm with an excessive amount of something
Examples
In a meeting
“We were inundated with applications after posting the job listing.”
Over coffee
“I'm inundated with emails—I'll never catch up.”
Why this word
overwhelm
inundate specifically means flooding with excessive quantity, while overwhelm is general overpowering
flood
inundate emphasizes being submerged beyond capacity, while flood is more literal water coverage
overload
inundate suggests drowning in volume, while overload means exceeding capacity
Usage tip
Use when the volume is so high it becomes difficult to manage
Etymology
Latin: inundare from in- (upon) + unda (wave) — 'to flood with waves'
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