variants
also hysteric
1
as in funny
causing or intended to cause laughter
some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
the police officer assured the mother that there was no need to get hysterical, for most missing children are found safe and sound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
upon hearing the announcement that a shark had been sighted, hysterical beachgoers raced out of the water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hysterical
On the other side, there was just as much commotion, but these conversations were almost hysterical — and far uglier.
—
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Across the country, Kitty and Jose’s relatives were learning the couple had been gruesomely shot in their home overnight, reported dead by their sons, Erik and Lyle, in a hysteric 911 call.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The reality, as with most things in life, is that the performance and result requires a measured response, rather than hysterical hyperbole that some are resorting to.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
His peace of mind doesn’t survive the first commute to work, when Alex and Dwayne nearly run over a dirty, barefoot, hysterical boy, Riley (Gage Munroe), who has escaped from TPA.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Across the country, Kitty and Jose’s relatives were learning the couple had been gruesomely shot in their home overnight, reported dead by their sons, Erik and Lyle, in a hysteric 911 call.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The reality, as with most things in life, is that the performance and result requires a measured response, rather than hysterical hyperbole that some are resorting to.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
His peace of mind doesn’t survive the first commute to work, when Alex and Dwayne nearly run over a dirty, barefoot, hysterical boy, Riley (Gage Munroe), who has escaped from TPA.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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Anyone vaguely near the aesthetic gets christened it by fans, including Bassvictim, who were always funnier and more creative than the other modern electroclash revivalists.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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The performance is funny and manic and just the right amount of sad and desperate.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Locked away in an old house in Montana, her increasingly agitated and erratic behavior leaves her companion, Jackson, played by Pattinson, worried and helpless.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
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In this effective, no-nonsense chiller, a couple – one with an escalating form of parasomnia (a sleep disturbance that leads to fugue-like sleep walking) – seek and don’t get some R&R together and wind up arguing more and getting more agitated as freaky things start to happen.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sometimes, a frightened reaction is inexplicable.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Japanese had cyclotrons but no nuclear lobby driven by frightened, concerned, or ambitious scientists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The humorous post comes a few weeks after Diplo addressed his past fling with the pop star — who is now linked to Trudeau — on Nayeema Raza’s Smart Girls Dumb Questions podcast.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
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Hirt, the retired state DOJ agent, said one item in Farzam’s home was particularly humorous.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Eilert is soon drunk and distraught over seemingly losing his manuscript, and Hedda tells her ex-lover to kill himself.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Walker was distraught heading up the tunnel after his second ejection, having let his emotions get the best of him.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The disaster forced terrified guests and hotel staff to leap from windows or dangle bedsheets to escape rooms engulfed in smoke and flames.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center in Columbus was shocked to learn that someone had fortunately come upon the terrified pups just in time, KENS5 reported.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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So, for Season 4, Shepherd comes out and does a four- to six-minute comedic monologue — the way the big boys do in late night.—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
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Great comedic timing and delivery.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Alongside Idris as the president, the lead ensemble cast of increasingly frantic White House officials, security advisors and senior military figures includes the likes of Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Jason Clarke and Tracy Letts.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Broncos have had to open their season on the opposite side of the country the past two years — a frantic 56-45 win at Georgia Southern last year and a 34-7 loss to South Florida in August.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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