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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worried
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hysterical
The film adaptation of the incredibly popular video game, A Minecraft Movie fell flat with critics with 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, but has been met with hysterical audience reactions thanks to memes that spread online before the film’s release.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
With seven seasons of pure gold, Parks and Recreation served up everything from town hall shenanigans to hysterical dysfunction in the workplace, reminding us that staying true to your weirdness is the secret ingredient to keeping it all together.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Jesus, ain’t Ryan Gosling hysterical?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Amina always looked forward to these reunions; she was allowed to be a tourist with her friends, speaking too-loud English, getting a little hysterical.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
With seven seasons of pure gold, Parks and Recreation served up everything from town hall shenanigans to hysterical dysfunction in the workplace, reminding us that staying true to your weirdness is the secret ingredient to keeping it all together.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Jesus, ain’t Ryan Gosling hysterical?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Amina always looked forward to these reunions; she was allowed to be a tourist with her friends, speaking too-loud English, getting a little hysterical.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
What’s funny about that is that Alexander appears to have some Leonard Williams to his game.—
Charlotte Carroll,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Not lying and not funny, but not to be ignored either.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
My client is worried about losing benefits, which is not a reason to worry.—
Diane Omdahl,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Investors had also been worried about the fallout from sweeping U.S. tariffs that are prompting businesses to rein in spending.—
Deborah Sophia and Aditya Soni,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
When a deputy arrived, the victim was shaking and frightened, the complaint said.—
Dylan Gentile,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The next night, her sister Gwen said Selonia became frightened when a relative who was visiting Selonia spotted Jimmy Ray Barnes near her home.—
Vladimir Duthiers, Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As such, the Stars’ best chance is not to get into another track meet like Thursday night’s ridiculous game, won 7-4 by the Avalanche.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Seeing Tristen accept both his mother’s request to stay in the game and the responsibility of leading his team to victory gives the ridiculous exercise that is Restaurant Wars a whole different weight.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Bears should be hoping other teams are scared off by Campbell’s shorter-than-ideal arms.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
-
But much of the problem then was that Europeans were simply not scared enough to do their part.—
Barry R. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There were humorous moments amid the writers’ accounts of tragedy.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
She wasn’t moved to tears by Lainey Wilson’s headlining performance, nor was the singer-songwriter from rural San Luis Obispo, California, distraught over any kind of personal trauma triggered by Wilson’s lyrics (country songs are known for having this kind of effect, after all).—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter, was too distraught to read her own statement.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
-
And while the vision of Young, a vigorous 70 in his trademark schoolboy shorts, tie, crew socks and black shoes, is always amusing, there was nothing but serious respect for his finger-blistering playing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share