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 year 2025 was more tumultuous than any silly football game and its accompanying overwrought metaphors.
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Her desserts are plated like modern art, with thoughtful, generous, but never overwrought flourishes.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
There’s a particular kind of magic to Dôen, a brand that makes getting dressed feel romantic, easy, and never overwrought.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Glamour, 3 Dec. 2025
The resulting performance is terribly overwrought, and more than a little fun to watch in its grasping bigness.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Her desserts are plated like modern art, with thoughtful, generous, but never overwrought flourishes.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
There’s a particular kind of magic to Dôen, a brand that makes getting dressed feel romantic, easy, and never overwrought.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Glamour, 3 Dec. 2025
The resulting performance is terribly overwrought, and more than a little fun to watch in its grasping bigness.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwrought
Adjective
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Cook until brown on one side, about 3 minutes, then gently flip and cook on the other side until the cakes are evenly golden and heated through, about 2 minutes.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
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All that is accompanied by six restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, five heated indoor and outdoor pools, wellness experiences, and more.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Male pufferfish that are trying to win over a female run their fins along the sand, creating ornate circles and patterns to attract a date.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The dining room is truly beautiful, decorated with hanging lights, colorful furniture, paper flowers, and an ornate ofrenda.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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So, there are all sorts of fun details and influences here and everybody at Eintracht Frankfurt sounds incredibly excited about where the appointment may lead.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — during the halftime show, to a family excited to witness their son play in one of the biggest games of his career, here's a quick breakdown of those moments.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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It could be said that Send Help indulges in more baroque plot twists than fully necessary and begins to lose some steam toward the end.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
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Rovinj’s cobbled lanes, baroque churches, and seafood bistros are just a 10-minute walk away.—
Jonnie Bayfield,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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According to court documents, Shadbar became agitated and threatened to kill the family, using a racist slur in his threats, presumably directed at Robertson’s sons who are Black.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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To their credit, some gun-rights supporters did get agitated over this kerfuffle.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For the 2026 reimagining, Fennell worked with costume designer Jacqueline Durran to create dozens of costumes (Cathy alone, played by Margot Robbie, had 50) that were heavily inspired by the extravagant, unselfconscious and campy outfits of the mid-century.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
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One-upmanship, extravagant architectural plans, and a comparatively short construction schedule result in big bills, which are often not reflected in the original bids.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwrought. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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