1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
we were delirious with anxiety when the boy failed to return home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of delirious
These are the 2025 Bears, carrying their magic act into 2026 and starting their playoff story like this, with this kind of wild rally in front of a delirious and deserving home crowd.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Some of these skew toward the quirkier side, and a couple are blatant reaches (January wish lists are where our most delirious aspirations belong, after all).
—Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
Enter Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin, who create romantic comedies that are not just hilarious, witty, and insightful, but filled with delirious style.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delirious
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Some of these skew toward the quirkier side, and a couple are blatant reaches (January wish lists are where our most delirious aspirations belong, after all).
—Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
Enter Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin, who create romantic comedies that are not just hilarious, witty, and insightful, but filled with delirious style.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delirious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delirious
Adjective
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According to court documents, Shadbar became agitated and threatened to kill the family, using a racist slur in his threats, presumably directed at Robertson’s sons who are Black.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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To their credit, some gun-rights supporters did get agitated over this kerfuffle.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But when the music stops, investors will scramble for assets in a frantic game of musical chairs.—
Mikael Johnsson,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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During the frantic final minutes of the game, Lemont counted on Mikroulis for senior leadership.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Three days later, her distraught children pleaded for the 84-year-old’s safe return, confirming that law enforcement believe Nancy was abducted against her will and could be alive.—
Dan Reilly,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
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But the show’s standout is Sophia Lillis, whose distraught, morally inflamed Riley is the play’s most original figure.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Saturday evening, police released a photo of Haile Cummings, 34, who is being sought in connection with the furious shoot-out inside Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Ave.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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That may not be enough to stop furious lawmakers trying to eject the prime minister from office over his failure of judgment.—
Jill Lawless,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Capital expenditures, which are closely watched by investors who are worried about overspending, are expected to range between $175 billion to $185 billion in 2026.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
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But Willie Brown, the former mayor and speaker was not worried that Newsom would overly burnish his own story in his book.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Department of Homeland Security is slinging money around like mad.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
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Bugatti is marking the 20th birthday of its extraordinary Veyron with a special-edition hypercar that pays tribute to the 'mad genius' who designed it, Ferdinand Karl Piëch.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And so if this gets replicated, if there’s a spreading of feelings of fear, the most vulnerable people will be frightened to turn out.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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Both release a strong spray, or musk, when frightened.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This looming impasse between baseball and its players’ union stands to make for some intense labor negotiations.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
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Corporate succession has been fraught at Disney — and the subject of intense speculation across Hollywood in recent years.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delirious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delirious. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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