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Showing results for overwrought. Search instead for Overwrought/3.
Definitions

overwrought

[oh-ver-rawt, oh-ver-] / ˈoʊ vərˈrɔt, ˌoʊ vər- /
ADJECTIVE
exhausted and excited
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frantic
WEAK
affected agitated all shook up beside oneself crazy distracted emotional excitable fired-up flipped-out freaked-out histrionic histrionical hot under collar hot-and-bothered hyper in a state nervous neurotic on edge overexcited overstrung overworked spent steamed up stirred strung-out tense tired uneasy unstrung uptight weary wired worked-up worn wound-up
Antonyms
WEAK
calm collected cool rested unruffled

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Othello,” which runs 134 minutes with two intermissions, feels weighed down by overwrought dramatic gestures enacting Shakespeare’s tragic narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Its empirics are weak External link, its theory underspecified External link, and its narrative overwrought.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

The year 2025 was more tumultuous than any silly football game and its accompanying overwrought metaphors.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

My repeated refrain that DNA could fall at any moment sounded too suspiciously like Francis in one of his overwrought periods.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.