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.

The situation is so overwrought in this episode.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

The fears for Blue Owl are overwrought, however, says Raymond James analyst Wilma Burdis.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

But in the case of this maudlin, overwrought drama, “keep your eyes open” would be a more fitting demand.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 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

Laughing at my own overwrought imagination, I moistened the paper in the basin water and worked the stamp gently free.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Vocabulary lists containing overwrought

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