as in heated
being in a state of increased activity or agitation
the boy manages to panic himself by his own overactive imagination
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 overactive
The hormone, hepcidin, can be slightly overactive when your iron levels go up.
—
Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Since blemishes are closely tied to overactive oil glands, using a mask with these clays helps reduce one of the main triggers of acne.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 30 Sep. 2025
These dietary patterns appear to calm overactive immune responses and improve cellular repair processes.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Restoring brain glucose levels calmed the overactive CCK interneurons, in turn regulating the function of those excitatory pyramidal neurons, and the short-term memory problems seen in the mice were resolved.
—New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overactive
Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Since blemishes are closely tied to overactive oil glands, using a mask with these clays helps reduce one of the main triggers of acne.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 30 Sep. 2025
These dietary patterns appear to calm overactive immune responses and improve cellular repair processes.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Restoring brain glucose levels calmed the overactive CCK interneurons, in turn regulating the function of those excitatory pyramidal neurons, and the short-term memory problems seen in the mice were resolved.
—New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overactive
Adjective
-
Relax in the Spanish-style courtyard garden, or take a dip in San Antonio’s largest heated pool, all while surrounded by a rich blend of historic architecture and stately palm trees.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Canada has long been one of America’s top trading partners, behind China and Mexico, making trade tensions a heated topic.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kaitlyn is excited to one day share the memories of this very celebration with her little girl.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Birchmore, prosecutors said, was excited about becoming a mother and hoped Farwell would be involved in the baby’s life.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In this effective, no-nonsense chiller, a couple – one with an escalating form of parasomnia (a sleep disturbance that leads to fugue-like sleep walking) – seek and don’t get some R&R together and wind up arguing more and getting more agitated as freaky things start to happen.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Thomas appeared agitated that he was not allowed to resume playing.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Reading poetry out loud also requires us to pause for punctuation or line breaks, increasing our parasympathetic tone and dampening our hyperactive sympathetic nervous system.—
K.J.S. “Sunny” Anand,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overactive. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share