high-strung

American  

[hahy-struhng] / ˈhaɪˈstrʌŋ /

adjective

1. at great tension; highly excitable or nervous; edgy.

   high-strung nerves; a high-strung person.

   Synonyms:

   uptight, jittery, edgy, jumpy, temperamental, tense

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Etymology

Origin of high-strung

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

But as the satirically pompous, high-strung Moira Rose, the uncomfortably broke former soap opera queen and matriarch of the hit Canadian sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” O’Hara achieved universal acclaim and endless memeability.

From Salon

We eagerly drink in the discord because the stakes are illusory, even if the high-strung emotions turn out to be real.

From Salon

“Possibly two of the three, Nell,” Aunt Kitty called from the back room, her arms in the wardrobe again and digging so quickly that she seemed like some sort of high-strung gopher.

From Literature

Tom is a law professor and his wife, Amy, is a frustrated and high-strung housewife.

From The Wall Street Journal

The high-strung kid is pure nerve and he even looks like one, too; he’s the embodiment of a twitch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excitable
• restless