variants
also hysteric
1
as in funny
causing or intended to cause laughter
some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worried
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
the police officer assured the mother that there was no need to get hysterical, for most missing children are found safe and sound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
upon hearing the announcement that a shark had been sighted, hysterical beachgoers raced out of the water
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 hysterical
The scene in the lobby yawed from hysteric to melancholic and back—hundreds of people surrounded by tote bags and dogs, trading rumors, bleak jokes, and fragments of actual news.
—
Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
That drew an immediate rebuke from Moscow, which dismissed Europe’s concerns as groundless and hysterical.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Prior to their reanimation by Hope and her magic contract, the Tappers are in a state of almost-hysterical obsolescence.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
This sort of rhetoric only adds to the hysterical nature of contemporary politics, giving respectability to uncivilized behavior.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
That drew an immediate rebuke from Moscow, which dismissed Europe’s concerns as groundless and hysterical.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Prior to their reanimation by Hope and her magic contract, the Tappers are in a state of almost-hysterical obsolescence.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
This sort of rhetoric only adds to the hysterical nature of contemporary politics, giving respectability to uncivilized behavior.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
Jonathan was so funny and quick-witted for such a young kid.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Having this really intense action scene, and then all of a sudden a joke, a funny moment.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But farmers are worried that time is quickly running out to reach a deal in time to sell any of this year’s crop to their biggest customer.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The worried mom immediately booked a flight from Virginia to Colorado, which was an agonizing trip.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hundreds of frightened residents gathered in a grassy field near the fire station and refused to return home hours after the quake struck Bogo in Cebu province.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
So stay calm, control your breathing, don’t be frightened.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That is a ridiculous expectation to lumber on such a young player, but then this is one of the few times that one of football’s child stars — a name everyone has known for years — seems not only worth the hype, but at ease with it.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The piling on of hurdles, unforeseen challenges, and calamities is almost ridiculous.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Continue reading … 'TRYING MY BEST' – Country star 'scared' after anti-Trump song ignites social media firestorm.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Kids are all scared and all alone.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kim Kardashian was left terrified after learning someone put out a hit on her life.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
With every temptation, Jesus is lured into a forbidden world, and a terrified Joseph soon realizes that a demonic power is at work.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Of course not, but that’s the whole point of the humorous commercial.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The video serves as a humorous response and a technical showcase following the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)’s humanoid robot demonstration.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Nobody even seems particularly surprised or distraught.—
Jennifer Gonnerman,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The Alvord High School science teacher, who had told her students about feeding the sick kitten to the snake, gave three other kittens to a student who was distraught about the incident.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share