hysteric

hys·ter·ic | \ hi-ˈster-ik

How to pronounce hysteric (audio)

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Definition of hysteric

1 : a person subject to or suffering from hysteria

2 : an overemotional or unstable person He's a sweet-natured hysteric who overresponds to every stimulus.— Pauline Kael — see also hysterics

Examples of hysteric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Much vodka had been consumed by this point, and plot discussions degenerated into mass hysterics. — Ceridwen Dovey, The New Yorker, "Can You Write a Novel as a Group?," 30 Aug. 2019 Especially knowing how much our media loves to portray women as liars and hysterics. — Lydia Wang, refinery29.com, "Jameela Jamil Says She “Wouldn’t Lie In Print Or On Camera” After Accusations Go Viral," 18 Feb. 2020 Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Thursday sentenced President Trump’s former confidant Roger Stone to 40 months in prison, which if nothing else offers some lessons about the political hysterics of the last two weeks in Washington. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Roger Stone’s Sentence," 20 Feb. 2020 The constant whining and hysterics — magnified by their allies in the Democratic Media Complex — have been exhausting. — John Kass, Twin Cities, "John Kass: Is Democrats’ decision on Trump impeachment real, or just more natural gas?," 25 Sep. 2019 There are several other acts, then, who could send fans into hysterics. — Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, "BTS, Blackpink, Got7: Who will be the first K-pop act to perform at RodeoHouston?," 8 Jan. 2020 At the New York County Courthouse, on Centre Street in Manhattan, the USTA deployed a battery of experts and mounted a defense that often relied on junk science and Cold War hysterics. — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "She's a Transgender Pioneer, But Renée Richards Prefers to Stay Out of the Spotlight," 28 June 2019 Never mind that my young kids were riled up in the back seat, complaining loudly about the lack of pop music on the radio, now in hysterics after their grandfather’s blunder. — Washington Post, "Once war-torn, Slovenia has become a green retreat," 27 Nov. 2019 Her piano duets with her two sisters usually ended in hysterics. — courant.com, "Deborah Dorothy Weldon," 26 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hysteric.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

27 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Hysteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteric. Accessed 12 Jul. 2020.

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