Definitions

in a state

ADJECTIVE

anxious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afraid apprehensive careful concerned distressed fearful fidgety jittery nervous restless scared uneasy uptight

WEAK

aghast antsy basket case bugged butterflies choked clutched disquieted disturbed dreading fretful hacked hyper in a tizzy in suspense jumpy nervy overwrought shaking shaky shivery shook-up shot to pieces solicitous spooked strung-out sweating bullets taut troubled unglued unquiet watchful wired worried sick wreck

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bold brave calm collected composed confident cool courageous happy inattentive quiet unafraid unconcerned unfearful unworried

WEAK

assured content indifferent peaceful tranqil unwilling

ADJECTIVE

overwrought

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 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

ADJECTIVE

strained

Synonyms

STRONGEST

constrained labored stiff tense tight uneasy

STRONG

choked embarrassed put wired wreck

WEAK

artificial at end of rope awkward difficult false farfetched hard put nervous wreck self-conscious strung-out taut uncomfortable unglued unnatural unrelaxed uptight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm comfortable easy easygoing laid-back loose relaxed slack

WEAK

genuine unforced

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.

I have a name, a body of work, but there are people who are jobless, stripped of their pensions and left in a state of utter abandonment.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

They were told they hadn’t provided the proper paperwork, leaving Lyon’s funds, worth $1.2 million at his death, in a state of limbo.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Four of the state’s sole Black legislators pleaded with their colleagues to preserve Louisiana’s two Black-majority districts in a state where a third of voters are Black.

From Slate • May 14, 2026

Manchester City were in a state of turmoil this time last year, staring at a first trophyless season since 2017.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

The girls in the bunk room were in a state of great excitement over the evening’s gathering.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

in a state

Example Sentences

Related Words