high-strung

adjective

ˈhī-ˈstrəŋ 

: having an extremely nervous or sensitive temperament

Synonyms

• excitable
• fiddle-footed
• flighty
• fluttery
• hyper
• hyperactive
• hyperexcitable
• hyperkinetic
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• skittery
• skittish
• spasmodic
• spooky

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

Others might be more high-strung, trying to live up to the older sibling's example or carve out their own identity. —Emily Edlynn, Parents, 8 Jan. 2025

Her perception of things is a lot more high-strung than mine. —Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024

In order to support her siblings, Tanya fakes her way into a fancy fashion job, working under the high-strung Rose Lindsey, played by a scene-stealing Nicole Richie in a series of statement blazers. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024

Wood played many characters who were true-blue reliable, and others who were high-strung and neurotic. —Tim Gray, Variety, 20 July 2023

During a high-profile, two-day NATO summit in Lithuania, intense wrangling that diplomats generally prefer to keep behind closed doors instead spilled into public view, revealing a relationship between Kyiv and Western capitals that can be high-strung, emotionally fraught and occasionally messy. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 12 July 2023

Certain warning lights might come uninvited, as modern supercars are notoriously high-strung and finicky. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 7 July 2023

In the piece, Licht talked about how some of CNN's COVID coverage had been high-strung and lost touch with the country, a criticism that angered many in the newsroom. —David Bauder, ajc, 7 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

high-strung

adjective

-ˈstreŋ

: very nervous or sensitive

a dog too high-strung for children

Medical Definition

high-strung

adjective

-ˈstrəŋ 

: having an extremely nervous or sensitive temperament