hysterical

adjective

hi-ˈster-i-kəl How to pronounce hysterical (audio)
variants also hysteric
Definition of hystericalnext
1
as in funny
causing or intended to cause laughter some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical

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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

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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

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 kids were celebrating, but one little girl came out a little hysterical. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026 Necessary reckonings have pulled the deepest wounds of American history to the surface, fracturing the public into factions of the wronged, the guilty, and those in hysterical denial. — Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026 Things got worse when the officer found her hysterical and covered in blood, with a cut umbilical cord coming out of her pants and an unresponsive baby in the car with her. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 Even an audio engineer, ear pressed against the ultimate sound, could not have detected in my inner voice the famous hysterical note of a jealous woman. — Joyce Mansour, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
  1. funny
  2. agitated
  3. frightened
  4. humorous
  5. distraught
  6. terrified
  7. comedic
  8. frantic
Adjective
  • The results are sexy and funny, strange and gorgeous, personal and political, unconcerned with taboo or traditional structure.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Royals’ bat boy comes in and out of view, but there are two funny moments.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • Reddington looked visibly agitated while in the courtroom, both during sidebar — at which Clancy was present — and during Sullivan’s instructions.
    — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Officers described the videos recorded by that camera, writing that Westman seemed agitated after a visit with family and at times sobbed before driving by the church and school the night before the attack.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of agitated
Adjective
  • In the second test, 12 dogs were shown happy faces, as well as sad, frightened, and angry ones.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hilton’s sister, Barbara Giarraffa, frightened fans and TikTok moderators were among those who called authorities.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • Their escapade leads not only to the creation of their island paradise, Moonrise Kingdom, but a humorous wild goose chase between Suzy’s parents, Sam’s Scout troop, and the island police chief.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • When asked whether his dog has a favorite Bush song, Rossdale laughs before providing a humorous answer.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of humorous
Adjective
  • The Loyola Blakefield graduate and founder of First Team Staffing, an organization centered around staffing professional and temporary workers, was distraught over his sudden inability to consistently drive off the tee.
    — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But today’s Court often divides along stark ideological lines, and the liberals often sound truly distraught in their dissents.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of distraught
Adjective
  • Instead, coaches have become more and more terrified through the years of seeing their players getting hurt during largely meaningless games in August.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tempe police ultimately convinced the couple, who were initially too terrified to report the incident, to share what had happened to them, documents said.
    — Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrified
Adjective
  • Mystery Men Throw it back to the Y2K era with this 1999 comedy starring a plethora of the era’s brightest comedic talents, including Ben Stiller, Kel Mitchell, Janeane Garofolo, and Paul Reubens.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The one comedic element Blair didn’t want to stick his neck out for?
    — William Earl, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of comedic
Adjective
  • This theory isn’t landing in Washington, where the frantic and ideologically charged discourse portrays the adrift Democrats as led around by their left wing.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of frantic

Browse Nearby Words

hysteria
hysterical
hysterics
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Cite this Entry

“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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