Definition of apoplectic
1 medical : of, relating to, or causing apoplexy or stroke; also : affected with, susceptible to, or showing symptoms of apoplexy or stroke ◆Use of apoplectic in medical contexts relating to stroke still occurs but is now generally considered dated.
2a : of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke an apoplectic rageb : extremely enraged was apoplectic over the news
From the M-W Editors
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 the 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 of apoplectic from the Web
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Traditional conservatives were apoplectic: Today: the president espoused Russian views at NATO summit; his supporters at home minimized or even endorsed violent attacks on the press.
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On the Net, people get apoplectic at the thought of cookies and start quoting George Orwell at the mere mention of demographic surveys.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apoplectic'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of apoplectic
French or Late Latin; French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein —see apoplexy
APOPLECTIC Defined for English Language Learners
apoplectic
playDefinition of apoplectic for English Language Learners
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: very angry and excited
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medical : relating to or caused by apoplexy
Medical Dictionary
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See words that rhyme with apoplectic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for apoplectic Spanish Central: Translation of apoplectic Nglish: Translation of apoplectic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of apoplectic for Arabic speakers
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