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
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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
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Recent Examples of hysterical
Thanksgiving is gonna be hysterical already.
—
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
Soon Jen McTooth was hysterical.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
Soon Jen McTooth was hysterical.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
His writing is lavishly detailed and sharply intelligent, nuanced and lyrical but also funny and sometimes surreal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The dudes-rock montage that followed the execution sketch had some genuinely funny bits.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Emma Donoghue’s Room, which continues to haunt worried parents everywhere?—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
There also are those worried about player and staff safety as rowdy revelers stomp onto the field.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
-
That included an incident in a press box at Yankee Stadium in 2013, when a frightened and fractured Kay had to be brought back to a team hotel, or an incident at the offices at Angel Stadium on Easter Day in 2019 when a sweating and erratic Kay was taken home and then hospitalized.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump filed a bogus lawsuit against the company that pivoted on the ridiculous claim that YouTube was a secret agent of the Biden administration.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
For those who tire of driving something ridiculous-looking on paved roads, good news!—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The boy at the quotation board is running scared.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The best evidence that the Jets were scared to let Fields throw came before halftime, when New York went for it on fourth down on a fake punt, converted it, and then proceeded to run out the clock to head to the locker room.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
At the same time, completely terrified and anxious.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In May 2023, a homeowner in Spokane, Washington, was left terrified after two large moose appeared outside their home.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The change in environment prompted some humorous speculation from commenters about how the new stairs might affect the cat's health.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cooper gets considerable humorous mileage out of his goofy stoner role, starting with a guffaw-inducing pratfall entrance involving an exploding carton of oat milk.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The employees who lost their jobs are distraught, according to the source familiar with the RIF.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Eva’s decision to die left Druse distraught.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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