Meaning & use
Overwrought
Last updated
In a state of nervous excitement, anxiety, or agitation; also, excessively elaborate or ornate.
See it in a sentence
She was overwrought with worry after her son missed his flight.
Critics found the film's dialogue overwrought and melodramatic.
A note on using this word
Originally the past participle of 'overwork,' the word shifted to describe an overworked emotional or artistic state.
Words with a similar meaning
agitatedoverexcited
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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