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highly strung

British  

adjective

  1. tense and easily upset; excitable; nervous

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Aimée Kelly plays the role with a winning blend of caustic humor and narcissistic self-pity: She’s highly strung, manipulative and insecure.

From New York Times

But the dog was weak, and highly strung, and suffered a heart attack one bright December morning in the country, leaping from the porch in happy pursuit of a squirrel.

From Literature

Under the FMBA, with its direct reporting line to the Kremlin, Star City’s clinic was a highly strung place.

From Reuters

I haven’t had much of a backlash from my friendship cull so far, apart from one angry, highly strung former school friend who sent a flurry of unpleasant messages after I unfriended her.

From The Guardian

But he says he respects the comics who dodge politics to avoid “an audience member getting offended or too highly strung”.

From Reuters