as in heated
being in a state of increased activity or agitation
the boy manages to panic himself by his own overactive imagination
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Recent Examples of overactive
Koy, the son of a white father and Filipina mother, saw comedy as a way to channel an overactive personality and need to make people laugh into a career.
—
Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Is this all lip service, or will those living near the buzz of an overactive data center actually see relief?
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The series uses the recurring narrative device of Sherlock’s vivid, overactive imagination as a way to re-examine evidence.
—Max Gao, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The cause of the condition is often unknown, but in the majority of cases it's linked to an overactive immune system.
—Zia Sherrell, Health, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overactive
Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Is this all lip service, or will those living near the buzz of an overactive data center actually see relief?
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The series uses the recurring narrative device of Sherlock’s vivid, overactive imagination as a way to re-examine evidence.
—Max Gao, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The cause of the condition is often unknown, but in the majority of cases it's linked to an overactive immune system.
—Zia Sherrell, Health, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overactive
Adjective
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The heated exchange took place days before the California Republican Party weighs making an endorsement in the 2026 race for California governor.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The unusual childbirth comes at a time of heated discussion about citizenship laws in the United States.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Instead, according to several people involved and to contemporaneous documents, OpenAI executives seemed to grow only more excited about it.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Perhaps York was excited for this adventure.—
Craig Fehrman,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Trump has been in an increasingly agitated state, lobbing barbs at the alliance for refusing to help clear the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf chokepoint where around 20% of the world’s oil flowed until Iran effectively shuttered it.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Equally agitated are Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and her Master, Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert).—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In fact, a hyperactive locus coeruleus fuels some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Elizabeth Riley,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
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Accuweather expects a near-normal hurricane season, but the Atlantic basin has experienced multiple hyperactive seasons in recent years, driven in part by shifting global weather patterns that influence storm activity.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overactive. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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