worked up 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of worked upnext
as in wrought (up)

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worked up

2 of 2

verb

past tense of work up
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of 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
Putting words on the page seems too low stakes to get worked up about, and yet the terror of saying something taboo—or just being boring—feels like a terrible fate to most writers. — David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 Thou shalt not get too worked up about the chat! — Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for worked up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked up
  1. fed up
  2. developed
  3. angry
  4. forged
  5. upset
  6. created
  7. enraged
  8. worked out
Adjective
  • Checks and balances For the Republicans voting for Democratic candidates, much of the reasoning comes down to being fed up with one-party trifectas in both the state and federal governments.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Meghan Markle is reportedly fed up with the public constantly dragging her through the mud.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of fed up
Verb
  • By controlling how densely cancer-targeting proteins are displayed on the virus, the team developed vaccine particles that significantly reduced tumor development in mice.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Tools like Google’s AP2, Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol and Mastercard’s Agent Pay are being developed to address various parts of the process, things like documenting customer intent and verifying legitimate agents.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of developed
Adjective
  • Thus a group of angry Roman Catholics, led by Robert Catesby, began plotting a way to topple the Protestant government.
    — Lucia Barnum, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Packers come off an angry loss while the Panthers were humiliated on Sunday.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of angry
Verb
  • During the ’50s, Zeno forged a connection with André Breton, a cofounder of Surrealism, and exhibited alongside the movement’s adherents in Europe.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Concurrently with these board appointments, NFMLA has forged a new collaboration with the Sharjah Intl.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of forged
Adjective
  • There was no upset this time in the season opener for TCU men’s basketball as the Horned Frogs rolled to a 98-59 win over Lindenwood Monday night at Schollmaier Arena.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Hafley was naturally upset about Ollie Gordon’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that turned into a 3rd and 5 into a 3rd and 20 that the Dolphins didn’t convert during the Patriots’ 21-0 run.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of upset
Verb
  • That flag created a lot of debate, and people studied a slow-mo video and a second view of the penalty.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The company was created by Palmer Luckey, the founder of the military defense company Anduril Industries, and Ben Lamm, the co-founder of the genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of created
Adjective
  • Humiliated and enraged, Shurpanakha flees and recounts the incident to her brother Khara, setting in motion a series of confrontations between the rakshasas and Rama and Lakshmana.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • And not just any velociraptor, but the enraged dinosaur that pushed franchise champion Rachel Reilly into a volcano, thereby burning the reality TV icon to a crisp in a sea of lava.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enraged
Verb
  • Maybe that worked out for the better because the sanitizer measured a soupy 500 parts per million.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Joining the Chiefs’ practice squad According to McDowell, the Chiefs also worked out kickers Ben Sauls and Harrison Mevis this week before ultimately deciding to sign Tucker.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of worked out

Browse Nearby Words

worked over
worked up
worker
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Cite this Entry

“Worked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20up. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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