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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hysterical
Users found the loophole saga hysterical, and some parents shared similar experiences in the comments.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The premiere builds to an extended parody of sorts, both haunting and hysterical at once, and its black yet bubbly sense of humor only spreads from there.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
On June 7, 2021, Murdaugh placed a hysterical 911 call to report that Maggie and Paul had been shot to death near the dog kennels on his family’s sprawling Lowcountry hunting estate.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Barnett’s 7- and 8-year-old boys in the backseat became hysterical.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The premiere builds to an extended parody of sorts, both haunting and hysterical at once, and its black yet bubbly sense of humor only spreads from there.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
On June 7, 2021, Murdaugh placed a hysterical 911 call to report that Maggie and Paul had been shot to death near the dog kennels on his family’s sprawling Lowcountry hunting estate.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Barnett’s 7- and 8-year-old boys in the backseat became hysterical.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
Like life is a pool table but the billiard balls are all weighted in a funny way.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Blurring the line between performance and personal crisis, comedian Maria Bamford turns her mental health journey into material that’s riotously funny and ultimately inspiring.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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They easily could have been mistaken for agitated sports fans, and their actions were small and diffuse enough that they could be quickly dispersed.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Stewart conjures Lidia’s complex inner life with agitated images and a bold editing scheme that flashes back and ahead.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His employees are too frightened to come to work.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
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Because of a decision made decades before by frightened parents, these babies may grow up to suffer the misery of cancer — and, always, the risk of passing the curse of illness to future generations.—
Emilie G.C. Thompson,
STAT,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Picozzi had a humorous encounter on plow duty.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
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As heavy snow and bitter cold approach Kansas City, firefighters at Station 10 posted a humorous reminder on Facebook for residents to stay smart and safe.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Harrowing footage circulating online shows his distraught father desperately searching among piles of bodies covered with black body bags, crying out for his missing son.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Instead, Indiana won its first-ever national championship, and UM went home distraught.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Barry’s little sister, who answered the call, was terrified.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For the remainder of the final season, Penny Marshall was paired with rotating guest stars for a series of comedic misadventures.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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He was generally regarded as a comedic giant, and why not?—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Fast, a little frantic, and seemingly, as the months would show, drawn to all the wrong things.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
How a leader shows up, steady or frantic, present or distracted, calm or compressed, shapes how employees interpret the message itself.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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