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.

It's all a bit overwrought for my taste.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The situation is so overwrought in this episode.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

More often, it’s because everyone in the child’s social circle is using a smartphone to access social media, and children tell their parents—no doubt in overwrought terms—that being left out would be social suicide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

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

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 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

Vocabulary lists containing overwrought

The Phantom Tollbooth

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A Streetcar Named Desire

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Don't Panic! Synonyms for "Stress"

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