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.

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

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Del Toro’s work is just as overwrought, just as bogged down by ideas and just as keen to emphasize style over narrative substance as Fennell’s.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Mr. Bernthal can treat a tender moment as the opportunity to be overwrought.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

“I can get killed flying them, too,” Dobbs answered pugnaciously in his rough, quavering, overwrought voice.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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