1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
we were delirious with anxiety when the boy failed to return home
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
rushing about in a delirious state during the holidays
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Recent Examples of delirious
Fallen Angels' Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara are heaven-sent in this divine and delirious revival of Noël Coward’s sneakily groundbreaking 1925 play, about a pair of high-society housewives who hatch a plot to hook up with their former lover (Mark Consuelos).
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 May 2026
And Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022) dropped its kitschy, hip-swiveling subject into a delirious fever dream that at the very least made its messy screenplay interesting.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 2024, still being treated to keep his cancer at bay, Andrej had suddenly become somewhat delirious, requiring hospital admission to rule out the possibility of infection or, worse, of the cancer having spread to his brain.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
For a wonderful few minutes, the stage of Monmouth University’s Pollack Theater felt like a scene out of a delirious rock and roll fever dream.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delirious
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 May 2026
And Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022) dropped its kitschy, hip-swiveling subject into a delirious fever dream that at the very least made its messy screenplay interesting.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 2024, still being treated to keep his cancer at bay, Andrej had suddenly become somewhat delirious, requiring hospital admission to rule out the possibility of infection or, worse, of the cancer having spread to his brain.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
For a wonderful few minutes, the stage of Monmouth University’s Pollack Theater felt like a scene out of a delirious rock and roll fever dream.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delirious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delirious
Adjective
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According to witnesses interviewed by local police, Hall became agitated after taking a significant quantity of drugs.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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That was intentional, as a smiling Caballero admitted to enjoying the moment after the warning left him perplexed and agitated.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Here’s a recap of this week’s frantic pace.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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McKenna's death gained national attention after her disappearance in the middle of the night set off a frantic search for the teenager.—
Angela George,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Her son was too distraught to speak on Sunday.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2026
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Caitlin Clark appeared emotionally distraught during a postgame news conference after the Indiana Fever's 113-96 loss to the Atlanta Dream and archrival Angel Reese.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Sam Sanders grew up in anger; his father, an alcoholic, would come home from work furious, Matt says, beating Sam with his belt.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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Seminole commissioners are furious that Lynx wants to hike costs for its mass transit service — even after the county ditched most of its bus routes last January due to a lack of riders.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Many small business owners struggle to provide retirement plans, according to a Senate legislative analyst, and Americans are growing increasingly worried about their financial security in retirement.—
Madeline Luebkert,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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But, garnering the support from those within the Big Ten and SEC footprint is clearly not an aspect of this process that both Cantwell and Cruz are worried about.—
Trey Wallace,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Initially skeptical, Tom becomes increasingly paranoid after a sailor who got lost in the fog essentially goes mad, with his eyes turning white just before dying.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
21 June 2026
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Relative bargain Please do not be mad at me for relaying this insurance math.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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Even young raccoons can bite or scratch when frightened, and wild animals can carry parasites and diseases, says Rakestraw.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
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When customers are frustrated, frightened, confused or considering leaving, those become high-risk moments.—
Demetri Giannikopoulos,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
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Within the hour, all firefighters were called off the roof and out of the building because of the danger posed by the intense flames and the ammonia leak.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delirious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delirious. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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