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Overwrought: meaning, definitions and examples

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overwrought

 

[ ˈoʊvərˌrɔːt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

emotional state

In a state of nervous excitement or anxiety, often to the point of being excessively or overly dramatic.

Synonyms

agitated, distraught, frantic, hysterical

Examples of usage

  • She was overwrought with worry about her upcoming exam.
  • The overwrought mother burst into tears at the sight of her child's scraped knee.
Context #2 | Adjective

literature

Excessively elaborate or ornate, especially in style or design.

Synonyms

fussy, lavish, ornate, overdone

Examples of usage

  • The overwrought descriptions in the novel made it difficult to follow the plot.
  • The artist's overwrought paintings were admired for their intricate details.

Translations

Translations of the word "overwrought" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excessivamente trabalhado

🇮🇳 अत्यधिक काम किया हुआ

🇩🇪 überarbeitet

🇮🇩 terlalu dikerjakan

🇺🇦 перевантажений

🇵🇱 przepracowany

🇯🇵 過度に仕上げられた

🇫🇷 trop travaillé

🇪🇸 excesivamente trabajado

🇹🇷 aşırı çalışılmış

🇰🇷 과도하게 일한

🇸🇦 مجهد للغاية

🇨🇿 přetížený

🇸🇰 prepracovaný

🇨🇳 过度劳累的

🇸🇮 preobremenjen

🇮🇸 ofhlaðinn

🇰🇿 шаршаған

🇬🇪 გადაღლილი

🇦🇿 çox işlənmiş

🇲🇽 excesivamente trabajado

Etymology

The word 'overwrought' originated in the late 18th century, combining 'over' and 'wrought' which means 'worked'. Initially, it was used in the context of being overly worked or elaborated. Over time, its usage expanded to include emotional states, particularly in literature and everyday language.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,218, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.