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
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Recent Examples of hysterical
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
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
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
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
The novel reminds us of how funny Krasznahorkai can be.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Karlsson is very likable, funny, smart and charismatic.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
During a ten-minute break, Heidi was worried.—
Joe Garcia,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Midwest The Upper Midwest is the only area that has some potential for minor travel delays, but the Farmer’s Almanac isn’t too worried.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite Lockjaw’s raid of their town, which reads as akin to an ICE campaign, Sensei isn’t frightened, confused, or shaken.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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The film revealed that when his pal John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982 at age 33, Candy was visibly shaken and frightened.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 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
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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
-
For all of her can-do spirit and bravado, she is guarded, wary, terrified of being vulnerable.—
Sarah Chamberlain,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Shoehorning in minutes for other quality forwards Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin and Klay Thompson (a theoretical shooting guard, but one whose coaches are terrified to have guard opposing wings) only gets more difficult.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Of course not, but that’s the whole point of the humorous commercial.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Oct. 2025
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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
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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 14 Oct. 2025.
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