1
as in heated
being in a state of increased activity or agitation
became overwrought when she heard that her child was missing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ornate
elaborately and often excessively decorated
the author's prose is overwrought with purple passages and florid metaphors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwrought
Officials need to spend more time reforming existing programs and less time getting overwrought.
—
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Regretting You is a similarly ridiculous and overwrought slice of melodrama, leavened with strange moments of comedy that leave you wondering if the whole thing isn’t some kind of bizarre art project, an elaborate, camp parody of the very notion of romantic literature itself.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
This is the kind of overwrought language that even sympathetic readers like me find laughable.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
My goal was to publish one short, impactful, overwrought piece a week.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Regretting You is a similarly ridiculous and overwrought slice of melodrama, leavened with strange moments of comedy that leave you wondering if the whole thing isn’t some kind of bizarre art project, an elaborate, camp parody of the very notion of romantic literature itself.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
This is the kind of overwrought language that even sympathetic readers like me find laughable.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
My goal was to publish one short, impactful, overwrought piece a week.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwrought
Adjective
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The hotel is a half-mile from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and comes with heated pools and hot tubs, as well as a fitness center and airport shuttle.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Carlson’s treatment of Fuentes on the show was in direct contrast to the pundit’s heated interview with Cruz in June.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Kempinski Istanbul Housed in an ornate former Ottoman palace on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is the ultimate luxury hotel in Istanbul.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nutcrackercore For those seeking theatrical glamour, Nutcrackercore delivers escapism through ornate decor.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Scherzinger glowed with an excited expression, her arms raised again in the air.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
A lot of us are excited to refresh our spaces in the new year.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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More than just an archive, Biblioteca Joanina is an architectural carrier of baroque art and colonial history.—
Navya Verma,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Jan. 2026
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Unfortunately for Cowley, as for many other writers, the Thirties were a time of effusive and baroque political passions, movements, and disputes.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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But Colcord kept probing, and Lowell grew agitated.—
Michael Waters,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
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Players from both teams shoved in front of the Providence bench, with Jones stepping in the middle as an agitated Ejiofor exchanged words with Powell.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The boom in production costs has been blamed on high talent prices, stemming from extravagant spending by big streamers in recent years.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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Not every Tesla investor was on board with the extravagant deal.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwrought. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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