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.

“Othello,” which runs 134 minutes with two intermissions, feels weighed down by overwrought dramatic gestures enacting Shakespeare’s tragic narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 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

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

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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A Streetcar Named Desire

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Don't Panic! Synonyms for "Stress"

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