delirium

noun

de·​lir·​i·​um di-ˈlir-ē-əm 

1

: an acute (see acute sense 1a(2)) mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations

2

: frenzied excitement

… he would stride about his room in a delirium of joy.

—Thomas Wolfe

a crowd in a state of delirium

Synonyms of delirium

• frenzy
• rampage

Examples of delirium in a Sentence

In her delirium, nothing she said made any sense.

shoppers running around in a delirium the day before Christmas

Recent Examples on the Web

Wayans also experienced foot pain, numb toes, delirium and blurry vision. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026

Wayans also began experiencing pain in his feet, numbness in his toes, delirium and blurry vision. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026

Wayans also began experiencing pain in his feet, numbness in his toes, episodes of delirium and blurry vision. —Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

And every film nerd knows that the production’s depravity and delirium almost surpasses the film’s—Apocalypse Now’s Wikipedia page is as wild as the film itself. —Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from delirare to be crazy, literally, to leave the furrow (in plowing), from de- + lira furrow — more at learn

First Known Use

circa 1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing delirium

• delirium tremens

Rhymes for delirium

• agrobacterium
• corynebacterium
• mycobacterium
• bacterium
• deuterium
• imperium
• puerperium
• venereum
• cyanobacterium
• magisterium
• ministerium

Kids Definition

delirium

noun

de·​lir·​i·​um di-ˈlir-ē-əm 

1

: a mental disturbance marked by confusion, disturbed speech, and hallucinations

2

: wild excitement

Medical Definition

delirium

noun

de·​lir·​i·​um di-ˈlir-ē-əm 

: an acute (see acute sense 2b(1)) mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations