apoplectic

adjective

ap·​o·​plec·​tic ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik 

1

medical : of, relating to, or causing apoplexy or stroke

also : affected with, susceptible to, or showing symptoms of apoplexy or stroke

Note: Use of apoplectic in medical contexts relating to stroke still occurs but is now generally considered dated.

2

a

: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke

an apoplectic rage

b

: extremely enraged

was apoplectic over the news

apoplectically

ˌa-pə-ˈplek-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

The Biden White House has been apoplectic about it. —Axios, 11 July 2024

As Saddam had expected, the Israeli government was apoplectic and wanted desperately to retaliate, but Saddam's plan was foiled when Israel was prevented from doing so by Washington. —Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012

He’s aided by viral videos that spread apoplectic anger among supporters, never mind what is actually happening on the ground. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024

But people were downright apoplectic about the idea of Dobson leaving her cart unrestrained. —Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

French or Late Latin; French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein — more at apoplexy

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

apoplectically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb