1
as in heated
being in a state of increased activity or agitation
became overwrought when she heard that her child was missing
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2
as in ornate
elaborately and often excessively decorated
the author's prose is overwrought with purple passages and florid metaphors
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Recent Examples of overwrought
Watch on Deadline Writer Mak Tin-shu, whose credits include last year’s milestone alien invasion extravaganza Warriors of Future, offsets the action with a generous showering of overwrought melodrama, as is to be expected from such a bombastic crowdpleaser.
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James Marsh, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research NO: Even after a computer beat the world champion human chess player, fears of machines taking over the world and destroying mankind are overwrought.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2024
No word is overwrought, no phrase fraught with unearned feeling, no hand ioverplayed.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
It Chapter Two is down to clown, again — in a bloody, silly, overwrought sequel
Moving down the tension scale to thrillers, Netflix is offloading a few particularly popular titles.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwrought 
James Marsh, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research NO: Even after a computer beat the world champion human chess player, fears of machines taking over the world and destroying mankind are overwrought.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2024
No word is overwrought, no phrase fraught with unearned feeling, no hand ioverplayed.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
It Chapter Two is down to clown, again — in a bloody, silly, overwrought sequel
Moving down the tension scale to thrillers, Netflix is offloading a few particularly popular titles.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overwrought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwrought
Adjective
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The sprawling backyard area has a heated swimming pool.Lana Bortolot, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
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Another incident was a heated disagreement with defender Todibo at half-time of the 5-2 home defeat against Arsenal at the end of November.Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Without ornate defensive features or the huge size of its fellow dinosaurs, Fona likely had to rely on speed, agility and alertness to best its predators.Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
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For a less ornate option, the Container Store stocks an especially convenient acrylic jewelry wall rack with 11 pegs.Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The 20% deficit is what will keep you excited and pushing yourself to see what’s possible.Jess Cording, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
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The truth is, most deer hunters get excited and rush their tracking jobs.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The shoes feature tones of sundial and baroque brown, and include sunflower motifs on the lip of the shoes.Julia Teti, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
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Housed in a 19th century Roman palazzo, the hotel’s 78 rooms and suites showcase Italian baroque opulence and the elegance of French classicism, striking the perfect balance between tradition and modernity.Anna Haines, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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That’s why, in the final minutes of the team’s home finale last month, agitated fans at Soldier Field serenaded McCaskey and his family with an impassioned request.Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
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In the middle of the party, an accordion player jigged among a group of young, unsteady revelers, rapping to the beat like an agitated auctioneer.Matthew Bremner, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In December 2019, the Angolan Embassy hosted an extravagant event at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art to commemorate the 1619 anniversary.Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
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Families who had given their sons and their future to the regime survived on bread and tea while Assad’s inner circle and other high officials flaunted their wealth on Instagram—luxury cars, seaside mansions, extravagant weddings.Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwrought. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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