high-strung

adjective

ˈhī-ˈstrəŋ How to pronounce high-strung (audio)
Synonyms of high-strung
: having an extremely nervous or sensitive temperament

Synonyms of high-strung

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Examples of high-strung in a Sentence

a dog that tends to be high-strung is not the best pet for young children
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The group — made up of high-strung news freelancer Billie (Lucy Freyer), chaotic diva Issa (Amita Rao), and life-of-the-party Anton (Owen Thiele) — are all at different places in love, life, and career. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026 But gone was the tension of worrying about pleasing a high-strung, perfectionist host. — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 Angela, a high-strung perfectionist, spends the day meticulously preparing dinner and decorating the apartment for the impromptu gathering. — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 The film follows Summer (McGraw), a high-strung teenager whose birthday getaway takes an unexpected turn when her free-spirited mom's new boyfriend joins the trip, who also happens to be her vice principal. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-strung

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-strung was in 1868

Browse Nearby Words

high street
high-strung
high style
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Cite this Entry

“High-strung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-strung. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

high-strung

adjective
-ˈstreŋ
: very nervous or sensitive
a dog too high-strung for children

Medical Definition

high-strung

adjective
-ˈstrəŋ How to pronounce high-strung (audio)
: having an extremely nervous or sensitive temperament
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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