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
Fans at my screening howled as ex-con maid Sydney Sweeney and desperate housewife Amanda Seyfried waged their hysterical suburban war.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The tone is never hysterical, either.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Though, from a distance, our hysterical laughter could be interpreted as such.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Every paradigm-shifting invention is met with a hysterical reaction.
—Charlie Dektar, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The tone is never hysterical, either.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Though, from a distance, our hysterical laughter could be interpreted as such.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Every paradigm-shifting invention is met with a hysterical reaction.
—Charlie Dektar, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
For most of the evening, the mood is darkly funny and a little ominous, as the siblings take undermining jabs and the in-laws roll their eyes.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Would that kind of thing have seemed funny at the time, or maybe a clever way to avoid a topic either too personal or too fraught for out-group consumption?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was heard yelling in an agitated manner, and officers saw Lindner with a revolver in his hand.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Breathing exercises Breathing slowly and evenly can help slow an elevated heart rate, and bring a sense of calm to an agitated state of mind—plus, pausing to practice slow, deep breaths helps kids connect to, and understand, bigger emotions.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Try Visual Deterrents Birds are easily frightened, so adding colorful flags that wave in the wind may keep them from landing on your lawn and dining on your grass seed.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
13 Mar. 2026
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And a new study, published in the journal Emotion, suggests that a robot that mimics human breathing can also pass on frightened feelings.—
Simon Makin,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Butler went for a mix of serious and humorous in his statement on the pickup.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The two American stars, the reason for Hulu to be giving this one a push, are both very good, using their respective comic personae to humorous effect but not schtick.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While cathartic for a moment, both Claire and Jamie are distraught, thinking that their daughter could have been alive and never knew.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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That’s a lot of people, plus their distraught families.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Everyone is terrified but grateful for this gift Ennis and Gary have given them.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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But her mother, too terrified to take out the garbage, let alone venture through the city to a hospital, canceled the procedure.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The role demands charisma, vocal chops, and sharp comedic timing, all deployed within one of the most cynical satires in the musical theater canon.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
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The brand previously had a decade-long run at Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Place before closing in 2009, throwing lively dueling-piano shows fueled by tips, alcohol, bawdy jokes and comedic crosstalk that sometimes embarrassed customers.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The victim’s husband, who works as an Uber driver to support his family, called Azizov about two hours after the crash, frantic to find his wife.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
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During a tense trip to the bank, Connie risks everything to secretly alert authorities, setting off a frantic search.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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