The term 'defeat overwhelmingly' can be expressed in three different ways using the solutions from the crossword puzzle: THRASH (6 letters), TROUNCE (7 letters), and BURY (4 letters). Thrashing is a term used to describe a violent beating, while trouncing is a more general term for a decisive victory. BURY is a metaphor for completely overwhelming an opponent. All three words imply a complete and total defeat of one party by another.