as in excitable
easily excited by nature
a dog that tends to be high-strung is not the best pet for young children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high-strung
The film follows Summer (McGraw), a high-strung teenager whose birthday getaway takes an unexpected turn when her free-spirited mom's new boyfriend joins the trip, who also happens to be her vice principal.
—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Carlton Preppy, high-strung, ambitious, sweater vest-wearing, Tom Jones-loving cousin to the Fresh Prince.
—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
9 June 2026
Who's ever going to complain about spending more time with high-strung Monica, nerdy Ross, emotional Rachel, spacey Phoebe, handsome Joey, or quip-ready Chandler?
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Played with blistering sarcasm by Emily Blunt, the high-strung Runway magazine assistant had many of the most crackling one-liners in the original 2006 film.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
In episode three, that perfect fit is Benito Skinner, who plays a high-strung costume designer named Carter who wears Valerie down with a visual and spiritual assault on caftans on the set of her new sitcom.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
The same is true of Sonny and Sal, his high-strung henchman.
—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
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
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Carlton Preppy, high-strung, ambitious, sweater vest-wearing, Tom Jones-loving cousin to the Fresh Prince.
—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
9 June 2026
Who's ever going to complain about spending more time with high-strung Monica, nerdy Ross, emotional Rachel, spacey Phoebe, handsome Joey, or quip-ready Chandler?
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Played with blistering sarcasm by Emily Blunt, the high-strung Runway magazine assistant had many of the most crackling one-liners in the original 2006 film.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
In episode three, that perfect fit is Benito Skinner, who plays a high-strung costume designer named Carter who wears Valerie down with a visual and spiritual assault on caftans on the set of her new sitcom.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
The same is true of Sonny and Sal, his high-strung henchman.
—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-strung
Adjective
-
The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
-
The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
Adjective
-
Oprah selected it for her book club; at her compound in Montecito, Whitehead was so nervous that her staff insisted on blow-drying the damp patches of his dress shirt before they were introduced.
-
The low unemployment rate had made many economists nervous, including some on the Fed.
Cite this Entry
“High-strung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-strung. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
