apoplectic

adjective

ap·o·plec·tic | \ ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik

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

Note: 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 rage

b : extremely enraged was apoplectic over the news

Other Words from apoplectic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about apoplectic

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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 To say the plan was criticized would probably be the understatement of the century; fans were apoplectic, and politicians led from the back accordingly. — David Meyer, Fortune, "Corporate America addresses the Chauvin verdict," 21 Apr. 2021 Mets fans were apoplectic about the Wilpons [Fred and his son, Jeff, the team’s former COO] long before Madoff. — Joe Delessio, Curbed, "One More Thing Bernie Madoff Helped Ruin: The Mets," 15 Apr. 2021 His fellow senator from Kentucky was similarly apoplectic—and confused. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, "Delta and Coca-Cola Won’t Save Voting Rights in Georgia," 5 Apr. 2021 And now, after Friday’s draft-pick trade with the Dolphins, the 49ers are in position to grab a quarterback who has never made anyone apoplectic by overthrowing Emmanuel Sanders. — Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, "Not so fast: Four reasons why the 49ers should keep Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021," 28 Mar. 2021 Meanwhile, fans have practically been apoplectic about Dak’s negotiations. — Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, "Whatever the Cowboys and Texans have lacked lately in relevance, they’ve made up in QB intrigue," 25 Jan. 2021 Trump, who is apoplectic about being banned, plans to spend the final days of his term in office railing against the industry, the person said. — Author: Tony Romm, Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump scrambles to find new social network after Twitter ban, as White House prepares to blast big tech," 10 Jan. 2021 The dispute over the name Lady A caused the band the biggest backlash of their 14-year career, as the Internet was apoplectic at the news of their lawsuit. — Emily Yahr, Washington Post, "One name, two musical acts and a story of privilege: How the Lady A controversy captured the state of the music industry in 2020," 11 Nov. 2020 The flight attendants union was apoplectic and American Airlines called the move disheartening, plunging the fate of tens of thousands of furloughed workers in the aviation sector into further turmoil. — Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "While Trump’s Twitter feed goes quiet overnight, U.S. futures rebound," 7 Oct. 2020

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.