as in wrought (up)
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in developed
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort
spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 worked up
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Chicago — its fans, its organization and yes, its writers — has clung to that era as tightly as Toews and Kane clung to the Stanley Cup in that famous photo, because there’s been so little else to get worked up about.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The touching moment was shared on the TikTok account @rosiethestaffygirl, capturing the instant Rosie—a Staffordshire bull terrier rescue—worked up the nerve to confront something that had clearly been troubling her.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worked up
Adjective
Washington School House Hotel is located atop Park Avenue, moments from Main Street, and provides complimentary après-ski fare in the living room for outdoor enthusiasts who have worked up an appetite.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
Chicago — its fans, its organization and yes, its writers — has clung to that era as tightly as Toews and Kane clung to the Stanley Cup in that famous photo, because there’s been so little else to get worked up about.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The backstory This is the first hotel by Jaime Bravo, a Costa Rican hotelier who worked up the ranks of hospitality at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong and a couple of boutique hotels in Tulum.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The touching moment was shared on the TikTok account @rosiethestaffygirl, capturing the instant Rosie—a Staffordshire bull terrier rescue—worked up the nerve to confront something that had clearly been troubling her.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worked up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked up
Verb
-
The county soon developed an interest in the land occupied by the golf course.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
By the end of the course, the fellows had developed curricula that promote essential skills in early education, including inquiry, analysis and critical thinking, according to project director Meghan Green, an assistant professor in Erikson’s teacher education program.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
More and more Americans across the spectrum see Netanyahu’s Israel as a spoiled child, and they’re just fed up with it.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And hopefully we as a community kind of get fed up together and just get more involved, get more nosy.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The festival’s highest honor, the Sierra Spirit Award, is given to someone who has forged a unique, independent path in the world of film and television.—
William Earl,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Each has at least one iconic engine with the requisite number of cylinders; a couple of them have forged it into part of their performance identity.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The many leaps in time to the wedding—to which Ruben shows up on a motorcycle, angry enough to knock his brother out with a single punch—consistently ratchet up the sense of dread, and the suspense over why or how these two have stayed enmeshed.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Jabil board defies angry shareholders.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
-
That event, along with the Grand Mosque seizure in 1979, created a backlash against Western thought, Western ideology.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Brooklyn grandmom was upset that the women were allowing their dogs to defecate in an empty lot next to her property, her son told the Daily News at the time.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mom was very upset that the inheritance was not divided up equally and asked me several times why my portion would be so much larger.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Angels got two runners on with one out in the eighth, but Grant Taylor worked out of the jam to maintain the three-run lead.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The 22-year-old from Nigeria declared for the 2025 draft and worked out for teams, but was not invited to the combine.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Officers said an adult male suspect attempted to sell products to the bakery and became enraged when an employee declined.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Shortly after administering the technical to an enraged Self, referee Doug Sirmons hit KU’s coach with another tech, ostensibly for remaining on the court instead of returning to the coach’s box.—
Gary Bedore
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
