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.

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

Much of the concern surrounding AI slop is overwrought, as low-quality mass-produced content has consistently accompanied technological innovation throughout history, from the printing press to Grub Street publications in the 1700s.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 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

Two days after arriving in the latter community, he brazenly knocked on the door of Edward Weston, who was sufficiently charmed by the overwrought young man to humor him.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Vocabulary lists containing overwrought

The Phantom Tollbooth

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