highly strung

adjective

1. tense and easily upset; excitable; nervous

Example Sentences

Aimée Kelly plays the role with a winning blend of caustic humor and narcissistic self-pity: She’s highly strung, manipulative and insecure.

From New York Times

But the dog was weak, and highly strung, and suffered a heart attack one bright December morning in the country, leaping from the porch in happy pursuit of a squirrel.

From Literature

Under the FMBA, with its direct reporting line to the Kremlin, Star City’s clinic was a highly strung place.

From Reuters

My husband is, obviously, a liberal, and liberals are pretty highly strung these days.

From Los Angeles Times

I haven’t had much of a backlash from my friendship cull so far, apart from one angry, highly strung former school friend who sent a flurry of unpleasant messages after I unfriended her.

From The Guardian