overwhelm vs seize

overwhelm and seize both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
overwhelm	No	No	Yes	No
seize	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, seize is a hyponym of overwhelm; that is, seize is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than overwhelm:

Other hyponyms of overwhelm include devastate, clutch, get hold of, kill, benight, knock out, stagger, lock.

overwhelm (verb)	seize (verb)
charge someone with too many tasks	capture the attention or imagination of
overcome by superior force	affect
cover completely or make imperceptible	take into your hands deliberately
overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli	take or capture by force
	hook by a pull on the line
	take possession of by force, as after an invasion
	take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority
	seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession