as in excitable
easily excited by nature
a dog that tends to be high-strung is not the best pet for young children
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Recent Examples of high-strung
The scheme shocks their high-strung son Harold (Roberts), whose wife, Neha (Gill), is a local police officer.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The combination of the car weighing less than 1,750 pounds, its slippery shape, and its high-strung engine, allows the 202 to nudge 105 mph.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
In each of these roles, O’Hara grounded these high-strung personas while deftly winking at the audience and letting them in on the joke, particularly in the films’ mock-interview segments.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Carlton Preppy, high-strung, ambitious, sweater vest-wearing, Tom Jones-loving cousin to the Fresh Prince.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 19 Jan. 2026
The heavy, high-strung, high-stakes series is a must-watch.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 2025
Things are further complicated when the eldest Stone son, played by Dermot Mulroney, brings his high-strung girlfriend, Meredith (Parker), home to meet the family, and the matriarch later reveals to everyone that her breast cancer has metastasized.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
The Family Stone Tension mounts when Everett (Dermot Mulroney) brings his high-strung girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), home for Christmas to meet his family, who are fantastically played by the late Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Luke Wilson.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Somewhat more sympathetic are Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), a gifted cellist, sidelined by chronic pain, whose generous donations keep the church running, and Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), a high-strung attorney.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The combination of the car weighing less than 1,750 pounds, its slippery shape, and its high-strung engine, allows the 202 to nudge 105 mph.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
In each of these roles, O’Hara grounded these high-strung personas while deftly winking at the audience and letting them in on the joke, particularly in the films’ mock-interview segments.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Carlton Preppy, high-strung, ambitious, sweater vest-wearing, Tom Jones-loving cousin to the Fresh Prince.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 19 Jan. 2026
The heavy, high-strung, high-stakes series is a must-watch.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 2025
Things are further complicated when the eldest Stone son, played by Dermot Mulroney, brings his high-strung girlfriend, Meredith (Parker), home to meet the family, and the matriarch later reveals to everyone that her breast cancer has metastasized.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
The Family Stone Tension mounts when Everett (Dermot Mulroney) brings his high-strung girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), home for Christmas to meet his family, who are fantastically played by the late Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Luke Wilson.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Somewhat more sympathetic are Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), a gifted cellist, sidelined by chronic pain, whose generous donations keep the church running, and Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), a high-strung attorney.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-strung
Adjective
-
Penny is an excitable and expressive teen.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The expressive and excitable young girl stumbles along, while the wary grown-up remains controlled and refined — even though both are completely lost.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-strung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-strung. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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