unwhelm

U1N1W4H4E1L1M3

verb

To raise (someone) up from under something that has overwhelmed them.

Scrabble 15
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Meanings

verbunwhelm (third-person singular simple present unwhelms, present participle unwhelming, simple past and past participle unwhelmed)

present singular third person unwhelms · participle present unwhelming · participle past unwhelmed · past unwhelmed

  1. rareTo raise (someone) up from under something that has overwhelmed them.

    ‘Well,’ said Caroline, unwhelming herself of a sudden access of confidence in the Baron’s disinterestedness

    1957, Muriel Spark, The Comforters, New York: Avalon, published 1965, Part One, Chapter 3, p. 59
    1 more example

    And it is all through him Who as a guest came pledged into this house. Came with the chivalry and manly show Of reverence and grace, that he too well Has learnt in cunning lands and used to lure. Ah, and he seeks us now! unwhelmed of it! Ready of step, impassive, cold!

    1908, Cale Young Rice, Yolanda of Cyprus, New York: McClure, act II, pages 64–65

Origin

From un- + whelm.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with unwhelm

realmelmhelmoverwhelmAnselmyelmHjelmKelmChelmat the helmbehelmChełmcoin of the realmdishelmschelmunhelmuphelmwhelm
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

unwhelm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwhelm

MLA

“unwhelm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwhelm. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unwhelm,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwhelm.

Source: unwhelm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.