WOUND UP Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

wound up

verb

variants also winded up

past tense of wind up

as in ended

to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stopped

to come to an end her speeches usually wind up with one last joke

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 wound up He was arrested, wound up in jail for a couple of days and had a fancy meal at the Pump Room. —

Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026 Duncan wound up her time by announcing that Netflix will stream the FIFA Women’s World Cup from Brazil in 2027. —

Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 May 2026 On May 12, Colbert sat down with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal and wound up kissing both of them on the lips to the delight of his studio audience. —

Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 13 May 2026 The game wound up getting away from the Tigers later, as the Mets scored three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, and the Mets' bullpen was able to hold Detroit scoreless for the rest of the game for a 10-2 New York win. —

Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026 That the story of The Deb, which centers around female friendship and unity despite cultural differences, wound up curdling into a swirling pit of harassment and negativity and abuse is one of this world’s cruel ironies. —

Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 May 2026 For example, two weeks ago, the White Sox wound up last on our list despite only one of our voters actually ranking them 30th. —

Chad Jennings, New York Times, 6 May 2026 The whole documentary wound up being about that. —

A.d. Amorosi, SPIN, 4 May 2026 Two drivers slammed into two squad cars within a couple of hours and wound up under arrest, records show. —

Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wound up

Verb

After the review, McNabb was assessed a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct that ended his night.

— Eric Stephens, New York Times, 13 May 2026
After one more look-ahead sizzle reminding the audience about the power of WBD’s IP, the show ended at just about 10 minutes over the hour mark.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 13 May 2026