overreactive
Too easily triggered
Overreactive describes responding to something with more intensity than the situation warrants.
An overreactive immune system attacks harmless substances.
An overreactive parent panics at minor scrapes.
The word implies the reaction itself isn't wrong—just excessive: Critics called the market selloff overreactive to a single earnings report.
Excessively prone to offense
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- high-strungNervously sensitive temperament
thin-skinned · hypersensitive · irritable · defensive · moody · neurotic · edgy · tense
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- allergicAdversely reactive to substances
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
- epinephrineAdrenal stress hormone
hives · inflammation · intolerance · autoimmune · flare-up · hypersensitivity · immunological · sensitized
Not properly scaled
- excessiveSurpassing reasonable bounds
- over-the-topExcessively dramatic or extravagant
- overblownInflated beyond reasonable proportion
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
extreme · unwarranted · outsized · inflated · magnified · amplified · unnecessary · undue
Instinctive and unconsidered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- impetuousActing on sudden urge
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
unthinking · reckless · heedless · incautious · trigger-happy · spur-of-the-moment · hot-headed · ill-considered
oversensitive
Excessively prone to offense
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
high-strung · thin-skinned · hypersensitive · irritable · defensive · moody · neurotic · edgy · tense · prickly
hypersensitive
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- allergicAdversely reactive to substances
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
epinephrine · hives · inflammation · intolerance · autoimmune · flare-up · hypersensitivity · immunological · sensitized · triggered
disproportionate
Not properly scaled
- excessiveSurpassing reasonable bounds
- over-the-topExcessively dramatic or extravagant
- overblownInflated beyond reasonable proportion
escalating · extreme · unwarranted · outsized · inflated · magnified · amplified · unnecessary · undue · immoderate
knee-jerk
Instinctive and unconsidered
precipitate · unthinking · reckless · heedless · incautious · trigger-happy · spur-of-the-moment · hot-headed · ill-considered · premature
overreactivemeasured
Carefully considered, unhurried
underreactive · calm · composed · level-headed · even-keeled
overreactiveeven-tempered
Reliably calm disposition
steady · equanimous · serene · poised · unexcitable