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
From embattled and high-strung romances to one three-time divorcée, here's a look at her relationship timeline.
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
Vest has always been high-strung, prone to wearing emotion on his sleeve.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 July 2025
This was also long before Emily Blunt was a household name, so the sass and high-strung nature of her character felt fresh.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 9 July 2025
A lot went down on Thursday’s new episode of Hacks, but one of the most memorable moments was when Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart) had an unexpected night out with her dutiful and high-strung assistant, Damien (played by Mark Indelicato).
—Jeff Conway, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Others might be more high-strung, trying to live up to the older sibling's example or carve out their own identity.
—Emily Edlynn, Parents, 8 Jan. 2025
Feeling at home is a strong theme as Buddy tries to build a relationship with his estranged father, a high-strung corporate worker on the naughty list portrayed by Michael Hayden, and make it in the human world.
—Caroline Howe, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
In the film, Scrooge is now Frank Cross (Bill Murray), a high-strung, selfish and arrogant TV executive living in Manhattan.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
The show leaned into the meta-ness of the Lowes playing an eccentric father and high-strung son.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
Vest has always been high-strung, prone to wearing emotion on his sleeve.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 July 2025
This was also long before Emily Blunt was a household name, so the sass and high-strung nature of her character felt fresh.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 9 July 2025
A lot went down on Thursday’s new episode of Hacks, but one of the most memorable moments was when Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart) had an unexpected night out with her dutiful and high-strung assistant, Damien (played by Mark Indelicato).
—Jeff Conway, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Others might be more high-strung, trying to live up to the older sibling's example or carve out their own identity.
—Emily Edlynn, Parents, 8 Jan. 2025
Feeling at home is a strong theme as Buddy tries to build a relationship with his estranged father, a high-strung corporate worker on the naughty list portrayed by Michael Hayden, and make it in the human world.
—Caroline Howe, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
In the film, Scrooge is now Frank Cross (Bill Murray), a high-strung, selfish and arrogant TV executive living in Manhattan.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
The show leaned into the meta-ness of the Lowes playing an eccentric father and high-strung son.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-strung
Adjective
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Willie Garson brought ample laughs in Freaky Friday as Evan, an excitable patient of Curtis' Tess.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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In the emotionally complex role of Bert, Jonathan West gives a winning turn that’s all heart – just like a Golden – and makes a great team with Jamie Elvey’s excitable but pragmatic Trixie.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Reducing stress levels and finding ways to manage anxiety can usually help ease or prevent nervous poops.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
5 Aug. 2025
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Republican legislators in Austin have redrawn the Lone Star State's congressional maps after pressure from the president's political operatives, who are nervous that Democrats might win control of the House – as is customary for the party out of power – in 2026.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-strung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-strung. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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