adj
overwrought
oh-vuh-RAWT
adj
1
Extremely nervous, upset, or agitated.
"She became overwrought after hearing the bad news."
2
Too elaborate or overdone in style.
"Critics called the novel's prose overwrought and exhausting to read."
How to Use Overwrought
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither too emotionally worked up, or too fussy and elaborate in style.
Common pairings
overwrought prose
overwrought emotions
become overwrought
Word Forms
more overwrought comparative, most overwrought superlative
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Etymology
An old past participle of overwork, formed from over- + wrought (an archaic past tense of "work").