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

• agitated
• distraught
• frantic
• hysteric
• 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

The back and forth between these two figures — between, essentially, man and fate — has a delicious, delirious existential kick. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025

The week’s selections were hard-core, but also delirious and dreamy. —Hazlitt, 25 June 2025

Bong Joon Ho’s first film after Parasite is another satire, this time with a delirious sci-fi veneer. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025

The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions once again after beating the Edmonton Oilers, 5-1, on home ice in Sunrise on Tuesday night before a delirious crowd of red-and-white clad fans. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025

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