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Synonyms

overwrought

American  
[oh-ver-rawt, oh-ver-] / ˈoʊ vərˈrɔt, ˌoʊ vər- /

adjective

  1. extremely or excessively excited or agitated.

    to become overwrought on hearing bad news; an overwrought personality.
    Synonyms:
    frantic, distracted

  2. elaborated to excess; excessively complex or ornate.

    written in a florid, overwrought style.

  3. Archaic. wearied or exhausted by overwork.

overwrought British  
/ ˌəʊvəˈrɔːt /

adjective

  1. full of nervous tension; agitated

  2. too elaborate; fussy

    an overwrought style

  3. with the surface decorated or adorned

"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

Etymology

Origin of overwrought

First recorded in 1660–70; over- + wrought

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.

The year 2025 was more tumultuous than any silly football game and its accompanying overwrought metaphors.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 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

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” she whispers of an overwrought performance shown on stage in the Shakespearean tragedy.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.