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

Instead, New York mounted an improbable if not impossible resurrection, Anunoby’s tip-in providing the exclamation point to the delirious comeback. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

So ensues a period of delirious soul-searching, given tremendous gravitas by Bakhtadze. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

Moore said older patients can become disoriented and delirious after long periods in the ER, raising the risk of falls. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026

As Ricky adapts to his expanding worldview, a delirious new logic takes hold. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see delirium

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for delirious

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

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