delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium

delirious mutterings

2

: affected with or marked by delirium

delirious with fever

delirious fans

deliriously adverb

deliriousness noun

Synonyms of delirious

• agitated
• distraught
• frantic
• worried
• frightened

Examples of delirious in a Sentence

As the child's temperature went up, he became delirious and didn't know where he was.

He was delirious with fever.

a group of delirious fans celebrating the team's victory

Recent Examples on the Web

San José is a six-hour drive from Los Angeles, a delirious journey through mountain passes and across the Central Valley. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Our Lady of Unrequited Lust Played with delirious conviction by Vanessa Redgrave, Sister Jeanne is a hunchbacked nun whose devotion to God takes a backseat to her passion for Father Grandier (Oliver Reed). — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Oct. 2026

Shot primarily at night, Fallen Angels is all neon cityscapes, midnight noodle cafes, and delirious wide-angle shots, all tied together with a frantic trip-hop soundtrack. — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

The new mountaineering movies are delirious vicarious cinema, employing technological means and a filmmaking bravado that comes with them that would have been unimaginable three or four decades ago. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see delirium

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for delirious

• imperious
• mysterious
• deleterious
• nereus
• serious
• sirius

Kids Definition

delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: affected with, marked by, or characteristic of delirium

2

: wildly excited

delirious fans

deliriously adverb

deliriousness noun

Medical Definition

delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium

2

: affected with or marked by delirium

deliriously adverb