Synonyms for engulf

Most common

overwhelm · swallow up · plunge · immerse

All synonyms

Verb

Antonyms

release, expose, uncover

All antonyms of engulf →

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To overwhelm.

   Depression engulfed her after her daughter's death.

Forms

Past participle

engulfed
e.g. engulfed → overwhelmed, plunged, immersed, engrossed…

Example sentences

• plunge The robber tried to plunge the knife into the boy.
• overwhelm Do you find first dates enjoyable or do they overwhelm you?
• immerse How do you immerse yourself in the local culture?
• swallow Mary wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

sink¹, bury²

5 letters

steep¹, swamp¹, drown¹

6 letters

absorb², plunge¹, imbibe²

7 letters

swallow², immerse², engross²

8 letters

overflow³, submerge², ensphere

9 letters

overwhelm³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (bury² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français

engouffrer