Overworked: meaning, definitions and examples

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overworked

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈwɜrkt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

workload stress

Overworked refers to a state where an individual has been made to work excessively, often beyond their capacity. This can lead to fatigue, stress, and negative impacts on mental and physical health. It typically indicates a chronic situation where a person is unable to maintain work-life balance due to overwhelming responsibilities. Being overworked can arise from long hours, heavy workloads, or insufficient staffing. The consequences can include burnout, decreased productivity, and various health issues.

Synonyms

exhausted, fatigued, overburdened, overloaded, stressed.

Examples of usage

  • She felt overworked after two months of overtime.
  • Employees are often overworked during peak seasons.
  • The overworked staff struggled to meet the demands.

Translations

Translations of the word "overworked" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrecarregado

🇮🇳 अधिक कार्य किया हुआ

🇩🇪 überarbeitet

🇮🇩 kelelahan kerja

🇺🇦 перевантажений

🇵🇱 przepracowany

🇯🇵 過労の

🇫🇷 surchargé

🇪🇸 sobrecargado

🇹🇷 aşırı çalışmış

🇰🇷 과로한

🇸🇦 مرهق

🇨🇿 přepracovaný

🇸🇰 prepracovaný

🇨🇳 过度工作

🇸🇮 preobremenjen

🇮🇸 ofurlaður

🇰🇿 артық жұмыс істеген

🇬🇪 გატვირთული

🇦🇿 çox işlənmiş

🇲🇽 sobrecargado

Etymology

The term 'overworked' is a compound word formed from 'over' and 'worked'. The prefix 'over-' implies an excess or too much, while 'worked' comes from the base form 'work', which is derived from Old English 'weorc' meaning physical or mental effort. The usage of 'overworked' dates back to the late 19th century, around the time when industrialization led to workers experiencing longer hours and heavier workloads. Referencing the exploitation of labor forces during this period, the term began to gain traction in discussions around work conditions and employee rights. Over the decades, the concept has evolved alongside labor movements and continues to be relevant in modern workplace conversations, especially with rising concerns about mental health and work-life balance.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,339, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.