overwrought

adjective

over·​wrought ˌō-vər-ˈrȯt How to pronounce overwrought (audio)
ˌō-və-
1
: extremely excited : agitated
2
: elaborated to excess : overdone

Examples of overwrought in a Sentence

The witness became overwrought as she described the crime. became overwrought when she heard that her child was missing
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 My goal was to publish one short, impactful, overwrought piece a week. James Parker, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overwrought

Word History

Etymology

past participle of overwork

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overwrought was in 1638

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overwrought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwrought. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

overwrought

adjective
over·​wrought ˌō-və(r)-ˈrȯt How to pronounce overwrought (audio)
1
: extremely excited : agitated
overwrought feelings
2
: decorated too much : overdone

More from Merriam-Webster on overwrought

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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