Overwrought
/ˌoʊvərˈrɔːt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Overwrought describes a person who is very worried, anxious, or emotionally upset beyond what is usual or needed. It can also refer to something (like art or writing) that is too detailed, complicated, or full of strong feelings, making it seem too much or overdone.
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See It in Action
Emotionally very upset, nervous, or anxious
- •She was overwrought after hearing the bad news.
- •The actor gave an overwrought performance that felt too dramatic.
- •He became overwrought before the big exam and could not focus.
Too detailed, complicated, or decorated; overdone
- •The painting was overwrought with too many colors and shapes.
- •The story felt overwrought, with too many emotions and events.
- •The decoration was beautiful but a little overwrought for the small room.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "overwrought" like "worried" (A2 word), but much stronger—almost too much worry or emotion
- ✓Picture a tightly wound spring ready to snap because it is stretched too far
- ✓It's the feeling when you are so nervous or upset that you can't calm down easily
- ✓Sounds like "over-ROTE" → imagine someone repeating a stressful story over and over until they feel too tense
- ✓Imagine a movie scene where a character cries loudly and acts very emotional, more than usual
- ✓NOT like "calm" (quiet and peaceful), "overwrought" is full of strong, restless feelings
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "plain"—overwrought things are very detailed or decorated, sometimes too much
- ✓NOT like "angry" (which is a different emotion)—overwrought is more about worry, stress, or strong emotion
- ✓NOT like "excited" (positive feeling)—overwrought is often negative or uncomfortable
Try Other Words
- •Anxious: feeling worried or nervous (Use when focusing on nervousness, less about strong emotion)
- •Agitated: feeling restless or disturbed (Use when someone is visibly upset or disturbed)
- •Overdone: too much or too extreme (Use when talking about things that are too detailed or decorated)
- •Emotional: showing feelings strongly (Use when describing strong feelings without the negative sense of too much)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "over-" means too much or excessive
- •Root: "wrought" comes from old English meaning made or worked (from "work")
- •Etymology: originally meant something worked or made with care; later used to mean something done too much or too carefully
- •Historical development: First used in the 1600s to describe something made or done with great effort; later used for emotional states that are too strong
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people’s feelings when they are too nervous or upset, or to describe art, writing, or decoration that is too complex or emotional
Reflect & Connect
•Can being overwrought ever help someone, or is it always a problem? Why?
•How do you know when feelings or expressions become overwrought instead of normal?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was overwrought because the ___ news made her very worried and unable to think clearly.
2.An overwrought performance often includes ___ emotions that seem too strong for the situation.
3.Unlike calm or relaxed, overwrought shows a person is ___ and tense inside.
4.When a story is overwrought, it may have ___ details and feelings that make it hard to follow.
5.People sometimes become overwrought before important ___ like exams or interviews.
6.The decorations were beautiful but a little overwrought, with ___ colors and patterns.
7.If someone is overwrought, they may find it hard to ___ or speak clearly because of strong feelings.