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
The dialogue is overwrought, the plot contrivances are gratuitous, and the show has never been more fun.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Sponsors of the Florida legislation said the issues raised by opponents were overwrought.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Two, that party snacks need not be expensive and overwrought to be truly delicious.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Here, Linklater eschews the overwrought trappings that these types of movies typically fall into.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Sponsors of the Florida legislation said the issues raised by opponents were overwrought.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Two, that party snacks need not be expensive and overwrought to be truly delicious.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Here, Linklater eschews the overwrought trappings that these types of movies typically fall into.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwrought
Adjective
-
Another thankless gig leads Ben to Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), a nightclub singer with ties to Brendan Gleeson‘s Silvermane, a vicious mobster engaged in an increasingly heated conflict with the city’s mayor (Michael Kostroff).—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
My quarters were one of 65 freestanding wood cabins (albeit with heated floors and rain showers).—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ladies who lunch at The George cross paths with ladies who launch (startups, that is), men in smart suits are occasionally gala-bound, and creatives on laptops greet locals stopping in for a drink or afternoon tea under the ornate ceilings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
The insider added that the mom-to-be repeatedly gushed over the ornate decorations.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
These customer success stories have got investors excited.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
A lot of kids were excited to see the live painting, because now kids are used to being on their phones.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
As a solo artist, Batmanglij writes in a style that is baroque and sophisticated, and lightly warped in a way that recalls both Paul Simon and Radiohead.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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In the hands of almost any other novelist, this baroque profusion of forms, modes, and registers would achieve nothing more than confusion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
This tiny bird was alone and agitated.—
Lisa Hughes,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Unproductively, in the confines of the smaller-scale Fyda-Mar stage, the discordant sensory barrage director Oanh Nguyen brings to bear landed on at least one theatergoer as an agitated, irritating distraction.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Crucially for Cole’s metaphor, Nero’s rule was notorious for tyranny, self-dealing, and extravagant public spending on the construction of monuments to and for Nero himself.—
Tyler Green,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
-
Prosecutors say Violetta Mailyan used the money to live an extravagant lifestyle, helping to buy paintings, cars and multimillion-dollar properties.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwrought. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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