Having too much work to do; exhausted from working too hard or for too long.
From 'over-' (too much) + 'work' (from Old English 'weorc,' Germanic origin). A compound word that became common with the Industrial Revolution when long work hours were standard.
The word 'overworked' only became common in the 1800s when factory jobs meant 14-hour days—before that, most people worked whenever needed with no concept of 'overwork' since rest wasn't expected.
Disproportionately describes women who manage dual labor (paid + unpaid domestic/care work); framing often naturalizes exploitation rather than questioning allocation of responsibilities.
When describing overwork, specify the labor distribution and power structures causing it; avoid implying it's inevitable or individual responsibility alone.
["understaffed","under-resourced","overloaded due to [specific cause]"]
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