as in wrought (up)
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as in developed
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort
spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worked up
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Chicago — its fans, its organization and yes, its writers — has clung to that era as tightly as Toews and Kane clung to the Stanley Cup in that famous photo, because there’s been so little else to get worked up about.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
By the end of the photo shoot, the hunting party had worked up an appetite.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worked up
Adjective
Washington School House Hotel is located atop Park Avenue, moments from Main Street, and provides complimentary après-ski fare in the living room for outdoor enthusiasts who have worked up an appetite.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Chicago — its fans, its organization and yes, its writers — has clung to that era as tightly as Toews and Kane clung to the Stanley Cup in that famous photo, because there’s been so little else to get worked up about.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Why are people worked up about Nipah virus?
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
By the end of the photo shoot, the hunting party had worked up an appetite.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worked up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked up
Verb
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At the heart of the system is a compact blockchain protocol developed by the technology company Minima.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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Their professional paths developed through extensive education and hands-on experience, with each bringing distinct strengths into the practice.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That’s especially true today because the public is so fed up with forever wars — a sentiment that helped him get elected twice.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
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While the president boasts 70%-plus approval ratings, many in Mexico are fed up with the rampant lawlessness.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forged ahead last week with his realignment, expelling more than a dozen elite colleges from a military fellowship that serves as a pipeline to the upper ranks of leadership.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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In January 2025, during an investigation by the Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics, Lewis forged several letters reportedly written by former aides to refute allegations that Lewis was mistreating staff.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Burkle alleges that Anderson stopped paying him in 2014 after becoming angry with him over an unspecified personal dispute, the complaint states.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Our tormentor is angry the state chose Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and has not met his demands to stop mail-in voting and release his supporter and fellow election denier Tina Peters from prison.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once the films were created, the researchers needed ways to carefully adjust the number of charge carriers—particles that carry electrical current inside the material.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Frogs made enough big shots in the final minutes to prevent another upset.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2026
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However, other kids of the same age range might be more upset by the violence and harsh realities of nature—especially the ruthless and brutal of hierarchy of nature during the dinosaur years.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The problem is, nobody seemingly supported/endorsed that idea, which in hindsight might have worked out better for the Dolphins.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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Over decades, biologists have worked out what most of the static parts of the machine look like.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Shortly after administering the technical to an enraged Self, referee Doug Sirmons hit KU’s coach with another tech, ostensibly for remaining on the court instead of returning to the coach’s box.—
Gary Bedore
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
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Latinx people of conscience recognize our own tios, tias, primos, primas, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers in the brown faces being livestreamed with blood and agony pouring into enraged mouths asking for help.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20up. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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