engulfing

verb

present participle of engulf
as in flooding
to cover with a flood high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of engulfing The conflict between these characters is greater than the morality tale engulfing them. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 My biggest takeaway from engulfing myself in a Vegas book for the umpteenth time was the cheering and screaming every time a player approached the end zone. — Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Yvette opens the door to Pizza City’s lone toilet, engulfing them in a bouquet of Pine-Sol and damp cinderblock and the earthier smell of the small weedy lot where the bathroom’s rear wall ought to be. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 Footage from that border area captured Wednesday showed a furious wave of material engulfing a multistory border facility known as the Gyirong Port Immigration Office. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 Those officials moved into these elevated positions in the months following the Herald/Times’ reporting on the scandal engulfing the embattled charity. — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 As a parent who has purchased my share of scary Halloween costumes, I was particularly disturbed by the controversy now engulfing Target. — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026 Chopper 2 The fire grew to three alarms, engulfing the entire building and eventually causing the steeple to collapse. — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Home surveillance video shared with Fox News Digital shows flames engulfing the backyard as the fire spread. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engulfing
  1. flooding
  2. overwhelming
  3. drowning
  4. submerging
Verb
  • The central lounge is designed like a cenote, with sunlight flooding in through a huge opening in the dome, which hits different sunbeds throughout the day.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Eastern Africa can be susceptible to flooding during an El Niño, drowning cereal crops there, while southern Africa is drought-prone.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flooding
Verb
  • The media has overwhelming taken Wilson's side, even after the man was proven innocent, and players like Chicago Sky's Natasha Cloud claimed the fan may be a domestic abuser.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The costumers have done a great job of supporting the characters; the soundtrack music, by Oli Julian, is unusual enough to notice without overwhelming the action.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • Forecasters also expect strong rip currents and dangerous waves, which increase the risk of drowning for people swimming at the beach.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Workers and employers are drowning in their health insurance premiums.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of drowning
Verb
  • By submerging coal in a variety of fluids, Franklin was able to measure the typical size of its holes, as well as the amount of variation.
    — Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Stir in the basil, if using, submerging the leaves to prevent browning, then drop in the Thai chilies (if using).
    — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of submerging

Browse Nearby Words

engulfed
engulfing
engulfment
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Cite this Entry

“Engulfing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engulfing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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