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.

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overwrought British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈrɔːt /

adjective

1. full of nervous tension; agitated

2. too elaborate; fussy

   an overwrought style

3. with the surface decorated or adorned

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Etymology

Origin of overwrought

First recorded in 1660–70; over- + wrought

Example Sentences

Laughing at my own overwrought imagination, I moistened the paper in the basin water and worked the stamp gently free.

From Literature

“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

The situation is so overwrought in this episode.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Bernthal can treat a tender moment as the opportunity to be overwrought.

From The Wall Street Journal

Pace Mr. Miller, it didn’t advocate freedom for the sake of freedom, or elections as a good in themselves, even if the overwrought text of Mr. Bush’s Second Inaugural address lent itself to that parody.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• frantic