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
Parker was caught by a state trooper who pulled her over for driving erratically, but Parker was hysterical and maintained that the baby was hers.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Pantochino Productions, the singularly silly, strange and hysterical small theater company that has worked out of the Milford Arts Council (MAC) for the past 16 years, occupies a unique place in the Connecticut theater landscape.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Then Elizabeth’s sister Lydia (Jenna Coleman) shows up uninvited and hysterical; her still-caddish husband, George Wickham (Matthew Goode), had an argument with his friend Capt.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
This was a Jean Paul Gualitier wrap that challenged traditional notions of how a top male soccer player should appear, sending the British tabloids into a hysterical spin.
—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Pantochino Productions, the singularly silly, strange and hysterical small theater company that has worked out of the Milford Arts Council (MAC) for the past 16 years, occupies a unique place in the Connecticut theater landscape.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Then Elizabeth’s sister Lydia (Jenna Coleman) shows up uninvited and hysterical; her still-caddish husband, George Wickham (Matthew Goode), had an argument with his friend Capt.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
This was a Jean Paul Gualitier wrap that challenged traditional notions of how a top male soccer player should appear, sending the British tabloids into a hysterical spin.
—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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Watching improv is reliably funny because performers work without a script.
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But figuring out how to do all that while being funny at the same time?
Adjective
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Pitman grew even more agitated.
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Players grew agitated having to wait, but James was sending a message to Irving and the rest of his teammates.
Adjective
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Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.
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Some days are spent inside an Ebola Treatment Unit caring for patients who are frightened, isolated, and desperately ill.
Adjective
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Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly joined Lacoste ambassador and actor Pierre Niney for the humorous promotional film, produced by Niney’s production company.
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As the search continued, humorous posts imagining where Gracie might show up next spread across social media.
Adjective
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In fact, when a distraught Tom Hayward suddenly reappears, a content Mary is strolling in a local park on her own.
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Her son was too distraught to speak on Sunday.
Adjective
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Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain.
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Videos show terrified residents and collapsed buildings across Venezuela as powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the northern coast of the country.
Adjective
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The aliens will be voiced by British comedic actors Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan and Jamie Demetriou.
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His specific visual language — off-kilter, comedic, collaborative — scored him legions of fans.
Adjective
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The number of casualties is expected to climb with thousands reported missing and frantic rescue efforts continuing.
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The Chinese color research is being fueled by a frantic trend in its domestic car market where black is definitely this year’s color of choice.
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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