Wednesday saw their faint hopes of a top-six finish disappear as slick Bournemouth took them apart Chris Turner's side, 2-1 victors over South Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley at the weekend, were rocked on their heels as Bournemouth hit two goals in a nine-minute spell.
Bournemouth, also chasing a play-off spot, swept ahead in the 12th minute after skipper Graeme Lee conceded a free-kick. The ball was stroked to Carl Fletcher who finished with a spectacular strike, finding a chink in the wall from 25 yards.
Striker Warren Feeney tried his luck with a long-range shot minutes later, the ball rising beyond the far post before Bournemouth added a second on 21 minutes.
Stephen Purches threaded the ball to Steve Fletcher and the Bournemouth striker, making his 500th league appearance for the club, finished clinically from just inside the box, tucking the ball beyond Kevin Pressman's reach and into the far corner.
Big striker Kim Olsen squandered a half-chance for the Owls when he failed to connect with a Derek Geary cross eight yards out before Lee fired his shot into the ground leaving Neil Moss to make a comfortable save.
Midfielder Lewis McMahon drilled the ball narrowly wide as lethargic Wednesday finally sparked into life minutes after the restart.
Bournemouth escaped in the 59th minute when midfielder Robbie Mustoe pumped the ball to Olsen. The lanky Dane's header beat Moss but looped the wrong side of the bar.
Brian Barry-Murphy found space on the left as he ran on to an Adam Proudlock pass, and picked out the incoming Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu whose fierce shot was scooped up on the line by the Bournemouth keeper.
McMahon and Ndumbu-Nsungu both tested Moss with long-range strikes in the closing minutes as Wednesday looked for a way back.