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hysterical

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adjective hys·ter·i·cal \ hi-ˈster-i-kəl \

Definition of hysterical

1 :of, relating to, or marked by hysteria
  • hysterical conditions
2 :feeling or showing extreme and unrestrained emotion
  • hysterical fans
  • … the paper did not hesitate to appeal to racial passions in hysterical headlines and rabid editorials.
  • —The New Yorker
3 informal :very funny
  • a hysterical movie/joke
—

hysterically

play \hi-ˈster-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See hysterical defined for English-language learners

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First Known Use of hysterical

1650

hysterical Synonyms

Synonyms
antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, funny (also hysteric), killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious
Antonyms
humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical
Related Words
amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful
Near Antonyms
earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

HYSTERICAL Defined for Kids

hysterical

adjective hys·ter·i·cal \ hi-ˈster-i-kəl \

Definition of hysterical for Students

1 :feeling or showing extreme and uncontrolled emotion
  • hysterical laughter
  • … the sight of blood really makes him hysterical.
  • —Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
2 :very funny
  • Your joke was hysterical.
—

hysterically

adverb
  • laugh hysterically

Medical Dictionary

hysterical

play
adjective hys·ter·i·cal \ -ˈter-i-kəl \
variants: also hysteric play \-ˈter-ik\

medical Definition of hysterical

:of, relating to, or marked by hysteria
  • during hysterical conditions various functions of the human body are disordered
  • —Morris Fishbein
—

hysterically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Learn More about hysterical

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hysterical Spanish Central: Translation of hysterical Nglish: Translation of hysterical for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hysterical for Arabic speakers

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