Synonyms of hysterical

hysterical

adjective

hi-ˈster-i-kəl 

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

• funny
• humorous
• comedic
• amusing
• comical
• ridiculous
• comic
• hilarious
• entertaining
• screaming
• ludicrous
• farcical
• laughable
• uproarious
• riotous
• witty
• playful
• antic
• droll
• risible
• killing
• chucklesome
• sidesplitting
• humoristic
• zany
• clownish
• slapstick
• laughing
• flippant
• merry
• waggish
• jocular
• whimsical
• slapsticky
• mad
• facetious
• diverting
• flip
• gleeful
• jokey
• wry
• jolly
• jovial
• mirthful
• priceless
• campy
• knockabout
• smart
• rich
• jocose
• smart-aleck
• smart-alecky
• pert
• snickery
• jocund
• blithesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• lame
• humorless
• severe
• earnest
• tragic
• solemn
• unfunny
• somber
• unamusing
• grave
• staid
• sober
• poignant
• sedate
• unsmiling
• unhumorous
• unhysterical
• weighty
• sad
• moving
• uncomic
• touching
• tearful
• sorrowful
• mournful
• affecting
• no-nonsense
• lachrymose
• woeful
• sobersided

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

• agitated
• distraught
• frantic
• worried
• frightened
• scared
• terrified
• delirious
• upset
• frenzied
• distracted
• horrified
• anxious
• alarmed
• troubled
• nervous
• disturbed
• distrait
• aghast
• perturbed
• beside oneself
• crazed
• maniacal
• demented
• deranged
• fearful
• mad
• spooked
• ballistic
• tense
• berserk
• nuclear
• disquieted
• wrought (up)
• terrorized
• affrighted
• raving
• ranting
• raging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collected
• composed
• calm
• recollected
• peaceful
• serene
• unhysterical
• tranquil
• placid
• self-possessed
• self-composed
• undisturbed
• cool
• unperturbed
• untroubled
• self-possessed
• unshaken
• self-collected
• unworried
• coolheaded

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightened
• terrified
• afraid
• scared
• horrified
• shocked
• alarmed
• fearful
• worried
• aghast
• scary
• upset
• spooked
• panicked
• startled
• nervous
• affrighted
• horror-struck
• appalled
• terrorized
• anxious
• panicky
• apprehensive
• timid
• disturbed
• agitated
• phobic
• perturbed
• timorous
• tremulous
• shrinking
• panic-stricken
• jumpy
• jittery
• fainthearted
• disquieted
• disconcerted
• fearsome
• uneasy
• funky
• cautious
• wary
• shy
• careful
• dismayed
• cowardly
• coward
• chicken
• craven
• pusillanimous
• intimidated
• unnerved
• cowed
• gutless
• skittish
• daunted
• tremulant
• unadventurous
• prudent
• heedful
• lily-livered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fearless
• spirited
• daring
• adventurous
• unafraid
• audacious
• bold
• heroic
• spunky
• brave
• courageous
• gutsy
• plucky
• venturesome
• dashing
• daredevil
• intrepid
• valiant
• sure
• hardy
• gallant
• confident
• collected
• valorous
• cool
• composed
• adventuresome
• stalwart
• unperturbed
• stout
• sanguine
• venturous
• assured
• manful
• dauntless
• undaunted
• resolute
• stouthearted
• lionhearted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hysterical

An operator answers a call from a hysterical woman begging for help. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026

After years of the WNBA being ignored, the hysterical reaction to an obvious, common-sense position has made it into a laughingstock. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Maher has spent decades as an increasingly acidic monitor of his homeland’s hysterical politics on his HBO show, Real Time. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 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