OVERACTIVE Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

overactive

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈak-tiv

Definition of overactive

as in heated

being in a state of increased activity or agitation the boy manages to panic himself by his own overactive imagination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of overactive Bret is obsessed, but is his fixation on Robert the product of lust or an overactive imagination that can’t be fulfilled by his work on a novel titled Less Than Zero? — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 To stop treating my body like an inconvenient vehicle for my overactive brain. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 July 2026 Thyroid dysfunction — whether overactive or underactive — also disrupts the hair growth cycle. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026 Long-term use of medications like prednisone and conditions like overactive thyroid also raise risk in ways worth flagging with a doctor. — Allison Palmer updated June 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for overactive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overactive

Adjective

Trump has placed tariffs at the center of his agenda throughout his second term in the White House, though his use of the economic tool has faced some major legal setbacks and stoked heated pushback from other countries.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
According to reporting by Axios, Nixon and the FDP Chair Nikkie Fried had a heated phone call on Friday, during which the party chair expressed concern about the candidate’s ties to the DSA.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of heated

Adjective

On the opposite sideline, Trimble Tech Head Coach MK Hamilton entered the season with a more experienced roster and was excited about the leadership his veteran players bring.

— Riley Ledesma, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
The Atlanta native is excited to carry his dreams and the family name forward.

— PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Officers described the videos recorded by that camera, writing that Westman seemed agitated after a visit with family and at times sobbed before driving by the church and school the night before the attack.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
This has driven some agitated investors to see parallels between the current market and the conditions leading up to the dot-com crash of 2000-2002, when the overall S&P 500 lost nearly half its value.

— Joe D'Allegro, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of agitated

Adjective

Finally, there was the matter of Pollak himself, whose hyperactive social posts could come across as cringe, leaving many, including some inside Coinbase, to see him as high on his own supply.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Your hyperactive dog catches the scent of a deer and, powered by his hunter's instinct, disappears in the forest.

— Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of hyperactive

Browse Nearby Words

overacting

overactive

overacts

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Overactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overactive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of overactive

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes