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 resulting performance is terribly overwrought, and more than a little fun to watch in its grasping bigness.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwrought
Adjective
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Video shows a New York Rangers fan push a Boston Bruins fan down the stairs at TD Garden after a series of heated exchanges, court documents reveal.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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On Monday, Watkins and Hulsey had to be separated by the on-duty sergeant before their heated face-off escalated during a recess.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Every California governor since Earl Warren back in World War II had annually paraded into the ornate 1800s-decor Assembly chamber to address a joint session of the Legislature in what was always the most festive occasion of the year in the state Capitol.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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The service is a dream, as are the common spaces—handwoven tapestries by Portuguese artist José Sobral de Almada Negreiros hang throughout, with ornate furnishings and happy wallpaper in a rich yellow.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Scherzinger glowed with an excited expression, her arms raised again in the air.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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A lot of us are excited to refresh our spaces in the new year.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The works of this baroque brutalist, who was active until his death in 1997, have been steadily demolished over the past few decades — his Riverview High School in Sarasota in 2009, the Shoreline Apartments in Buffalo in 2020, his Burroughs-Wellcome Building in North Carolina the following year.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
13 Jan. 2026
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The pendant features an oval setting with a diamond bow supporting a baroque natural pearl drop.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cowboys tussle with agitated horses.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
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The central figures of the fountain feature Oceana (also known as Neptune), along with Triton with an agitated horse, and Triton with a calm horse.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The archival dress is Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture 2003, a classic yet modern, extravagant French Haute Couture creation, complete with hundreds of yards of silk tulle.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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During her time as queen, Marie Antoinette was known for her extravagant fashions and lavish parties, and her jewelry was no different.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwrought. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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