paroxysm

noun

par·ox·ysm | \ ˈper-ək-ˌsi-zəm

, ˈpa-rək- also pə-ˈräk-

Definition of paroxysm

1 : a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion a paroxysm of coughing convulsed … in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure— Thomas Hardy

2 : a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst a paroxysm of rage a paroxysm of laughter

Other Words from paroxysm Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about paroxysm

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Did You Know?

Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately derives from the Greek paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" or "to sharpen" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp." (That root also underlies the word oxygen.) In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm denoted agitation or intensification of a disease or its symptoms. (A still-used example of that sense is "a paroxysm of coughing.") Additionally, paroxysm soon took on a broader sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one.

Examples of paroxysm in a Sentence

He went into paroxysms of laughter. a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall

Recent Examples on the Web

If funding is secured in late November, ESA’s Lagrange mission will settle down near the sun, keeping an eye out and warning Earth of any incoming paroxysms. — National Geographic, "Solar storms can be even worse if you live near certain rocks," 18 Mar. 2019 At times, she would be gripped by paroxysms of desperation, at times by fits of resignation, which would then give way to even more violent forms of desperation. — Sarah Vitali, Harper's magazine, "Kill Your Darlings," 10 May 2019 These tumbling, turbulent paroxysms rush downslope at temperatures as high as 1,300°F and at speeds often exceeding 50 miles an hour. — National Geographic, "Volcanic 'avalanches' glide on air, boosting their deadly speed," 8 Apr. 2019 Civilization survived that paroxysm in the prenuclear age. — James Dobbins, WSJ, "History Ended in 1945," 9 Dec. 2018 The public greeted the news of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's pregnancy with paroxysms of glee, but apparently, no one is more excited than grandfather-to-be (for the fourth time!) Prince Charles. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Charles Is Really, Really Excited About Harry & Meghan's Baby News," 16 Oct. 2018 And in these early stages, both customers and analysts appear to see the delays as normal—and preferable to combustive paroxysm. — Sarah Scoles, WIRED, "Never Prebook Your Return Flight From a Rocket Launch," 6 July 2018 The audience is naturally convulsed in hilarity that’s interrupted only by paroxysms of sympathy for a protagonist who doesn’t understand why life is withholding from him the happy ending everyone else in his circle seems to be enjoying. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "Say 'I do' to 'Significant Other,' the rare romantic comedy with depth to match the laughs," 13 Apr. 2018 Such reconciliation echoes more and more widely in Baghdad, where residents have survived the paroxysms of violence and want to choose another way. — Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Baghdad, a sense of home resurfaces a decade after ethnic cleansing," 2 May 2018

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