delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium

delirious mutterings

2

: affected with or marked by delirium

delirious with fever

delirious fans

deliriously adverb

deliriousness noun

Synonyms of delirious

• agitated
• distraught
• frantic
• worried
• frightened

Examples of delirious in a Sentence

As the child's temperature went up, he became delirious and didn't know where he was.

He was delirious with fever.

a group of delirious fans celebrating the team's victory

Recent Examples on the Web

Wearing a towel around his waist in the locker room, Hurley was doused by his delirious players before spiking a ball from floor to ceiling. —Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026

Operating with laser focus, these tracks are his most brain-battering yet, following his peculiar style to a delirious deep end. —Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026

That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026

Those 18,646 went delirious, as did the Spurs themselves. —Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see delirium

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for delirious

• imperious
• mysterious
• cereus
• nereus
• serious
• sirius
• deleterious

Kids Definition

delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: affected with, marked by, or characteristic of delirium

2

: wildly excited

delirious fans

deliriously adverb

deliriousness noun

Medical Definition

delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium

2

: affected with or marked by delirium

deliriously adverb