hysteria

noun

hys·​te·​ria hi-ˈster-ē-ə How to pronounce hysteria (audio) -ˈstir- How to pronounce hysteria (audio)
1
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychogenic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral (see visceral sense 4) functions
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
political hysteria
The plague had caused mass hysteria in the village.

Examples of hysteria in a Sentence

A few of the children began to scream, and soon they were all caught up in the hysteria. Wartime hysteria led to many unfair accusations of treachery. The spreading of the disease caused mass hysteria in the village.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For all the hysteria around the goals conceded against Madrid and Palace, this setup actually helped Arsenal through their first leg encounter with the Spanish club. Art De Roché, New York Times, 2 May 2025 Although female hysteria is no longer recognized as legitimate, its vestiges persist. Shreyas Teegala, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025 Fonda noted that her career began in the late 1950s, amid anti-communist hysteria. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025 The last 30 minutes is a jaw-dropping transformation from childhood innocence to murderous hysteria. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hysteria

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from English hysteric, adjective, from Latin hystericus, from Greek hysterikos, from hystera womb; from the Greek notion that hysteria was peculiar to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hysteria was in 1772

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hysteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteria. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hysteria

noun
hys·​te·​ria his-ˈter-ē-ə How to pronounce hysteria (audio) -ˈtir- How to pronounce hysteria (audio)
1
: a nervous disorder marked by excitability of the emotions
2
: unmanageable fear or outburst of emotion

Medical Definition

hysteria

noun
hys·​te·​ria his-ˈter-ē-ə How to pronounce hysteria (audio) -ˈtir- How to pronounce hysteria (audio)
1
a
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral functions without an organic basis
b
: a similar condition in domestic animals
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess

More from Merriam-Webster on hysteria

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!