-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik
1
2
a
: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
b
: extremely enraged
was apoplectic over the news
Synonyms
- angered
- angry
- ballistic
- cheesed off [chiefly British]
- choleric
- enraged
- foaming
- fuming
- furious
- hopping
- horn-mad
- hot
- incensed
- indignant
- inflamed
- enflamed
- infuriate
- infuriated
- irate
- ireful
- livid
- mad
- outraged
- rabid
- rankled
- riled
- riley
- roiled
- shirty [chiefly British]
- sore
- steamed up
- steaming
- teed off
- ticked
- wrathful
- wroth
Examples of apoplectic in a Sentence
Giuliani was apoplectic when the gangster fought off murder and racketeering charges and sauntered out of court in March 1987 after a sensational acquittal to bask in the TV lights.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000
The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice.
—David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997
Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as to their newsmagazines.
—Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996
She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated.
the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
Recent Examples on the Web
But people were downright apoplectic about the idea of Dobson leaving her cart unrestrained.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
If one title had a week-to-week decline, Pecker became apoplectic.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
As Joo Young, Jeon exudes the frosty composure of a girl whose existence is an exercise in survival, while Jin keeps Hyung-soo — who oscillates between frantic indignation and apoplectic anger — from becoming buffoonish.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2023
California Your guide to the L.A. City Council District 10 race: South L.A., Mid-City, Koreatown
Feb. 1, 2024
Some Country Club Park residents are apoplectic at the suggestion of removing the gates.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
Arms control’s high priests and priestesses, and key senators such as Joe Biden and John Kerry, were apoplectic.
—John R. Bolton, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
The accusation that the cap table management and software unicorn was using customers’ confidential data to bolster its own business has left Silicon Valley startup founders apoplectic.
—Alexandra Garfinkle, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2024
Some police organizations are apoplectic over the proposal.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Dec. 2023
Hedwig, the gardener recalled, was apoplectic at the idea of leaving their rural hideaway.
—Giles Harvey, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apoplectic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near apoplectic
Cite this Entry
“Apoplectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apoplectic. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with or inclined to stroke
3
: seeming likely to cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
also
: very angry
was apoplectic over the news
Medical Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
More from Merriam-Webster on apoplectic
Nglish: Translation of apoplectic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of apoplectic for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share