Which definition best describes the word overwrought?

• A. Too ornate or complex
• B. Tired or fatigued
• C. Calm and peaceful
• D. Broad and general

Answer: (A)

Overwrought describes something that is excessively heightened, overdone, or elaborately worked up—often both emotionally and in style. This makes it a good match for “too ornate or complex,” since it conveys the sense of detail or sentiment that has been pushed beyond what is necessary. The other ideas don’t fit because they describe states that are not about excess or over-elaboration: being tired or fatigued reflects physical weariness, calm and peaceful is the opposite of tense or overdone, and broad and general misses the sense of being overly refined or embellished. For example, overwrought prose would feel overly ornate and cluttered with adjectives, rather than simple and clear.