overwrought

[ oh-ver-rawt, oh-ver- ]
/ ˈoʊ vərˈrɔt, ˌoʊ vər- /

adjective

extremely or excessively excited or agitated: to become overwrought on hearing bad news; an overwrought personality.
elaborated to excess; excessively complex or ornate: written in a florid, overwrought style.
Archaic. wearied or exhausted by overwork.

Origin of overwrought

First recorded in 1660–70; over- + wrought

SYNONYMS FOR overwrought

1 overexcited, worked up, wrought up, distracted, frantic.

Words nearby overwrought

Definition for overwrought (2 of 2)

overwork
[ verb oh-ver-wurk; noun oh-ver-wurk ]
/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈwɜrk; noun ˈoʊ vərˌwɜrk /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess: You look as though you've been overworking.

noun

work beyond one's strength or capacity.
extra or excessive work.

Origin of overwork

before 1000; Old English oferwyrcan. See over-, work

Example sentences from the Web for overwrought

British Dictionary definitions for overwrought (1 of 2)

overwrought
/ (ˌəʊvəˈrɔːt) /

adjective

full of nervous tension; agitated
too elaborate; fussy an overwrought style
(often postpositive and foll by with) with the surface decorated or adorned

British Dictionary definitions for overwrought (2 of 2)

overwork

verb (ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk) (mainly tr)

(also intr) to work or cause to work too hard or too long
to use too much to overwork an excuse
to decorate the surface of
to work up

noun (ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk)

excessive or excessively tiring work

Derived forms of overwork

overworked, adjective