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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hysterical
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
Thanksgiving is gonna be hysterical already.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
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
Thanksgiving is gonna be hysterical already.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Shepard are known to be funny, but one joke has kept them in the public eye all week.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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The film is also possibly Reichardt’s funniest thus far.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tang thought about his other friends who are worried about their aging parents.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
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Too many guys would be too worried about keeping their scholarships, never mind their snaps.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Japanese had cyclotrons but no nuclear lobby driven by frightened, concerned, or ambitious scientists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In many ways, that scene kind of represents the entire show, or at least what our intention was with it, something ridiculous juxtaposed with something, hopefully, very real.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
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The idea that trading somehow held it back is ridiculous.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the past, many manga and anime publishers were scared to work with Hollywood.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
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There is no reason for this team, when playing complementary football, to be scared of anyone.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Not every traveler wants to feel terrified on vacation, so this round-up of eight spooky places around the globe ranges from the perfectly harmless to the downright creepy.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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Instead of bounding in with excitement, the golden retriever looks terrified.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Despite its morbid premise, the movie is lighthearted and humorous while exploring the relationship between families and their pets.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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Barkov is the opposite of Tkachuk in personality, never the one with the humorous postgame quote or engaging TV soundbite.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a recording of the call later released by police, Sigg and her son – both emotionally distraught – sound frustrated by the dispatcher’s questions, feeling they were not being taken seriously.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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Cormier also discussed Aspinall appearing distraught over the crowd’s reaction.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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