1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
Darwin's introduction of the theory of evolution created paroxysms in both religion and science that are still being felt today
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Recent Examples of paroxysm
The prologue might end with a paroxysm of violence, but first there are a few timid whimpers of nascent pleasure; Bill Skarsgård’s base and primal Count Orlok is a nightmare who arrives on the wings of a nocturnal emission.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
Many of the young men peeling away from the Democrats came of age during in the social paroxysms of recent years: #MeToo, DEI, online cancellations—cultural changes that some men interpreted as hostile to them.
—Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
For Fu, a 24-year-old graduate student in Beijing, this month’s paroxysms don’t change much on the ground.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
Many of the young men peeling away from the Democrats came of age during in the social paroxysms of recent years: #MeToo, DEI, online cancellations—cultural changes that some men interpreted as hostile to them.
—Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
For Fu, a 24-year-old graduate student in Beijing, this month’s paroxysms don’t change much on the ground.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysm
Noun
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Martin's son Gabe, hiding alone under a blanket, said the explosion left his ears ringing and smelled like burning batteries.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The explosion of laws meant to protect minors from potentially harmful online content perhaps sounds noble at first glance, but with a second pass the laws read as superfluous.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Fiscal upheaval One bright spot could emerge on the horizon.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
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Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Nothing but quick and shocking outbursts of violence can pierce the movie’s surfaces of overheated restraint.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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Hubble captured this dramatic event in a stunning series of images, revealing intricate dust patterns as a flash of light from the outburst expanded outward and reflected off surrounding dust clouds — a phenomenon known as a light echo.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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All but one of the 26 people massacred were Indian citizens, prompting a new wave of unrest in a region claimed by both Pakistan and India and that has been the epicenter of often violent territorial struggle between the two countries.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
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The president’s tariff policy is another issue, along with a general state of unrest in Washington and rising concern that pressure from a variety of fronts could push the U.S. into recession.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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All the nervous energy that had built up at American Airlines Center was released in a burst of delirious joy.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The Hubble Space Telescope's recent deep-dive into Andromeda has been able to track the disorder in M31 that the merger left in its wake: streams of stars cannibalized from the galaxy eaten by M31 and producing a burst of star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Scully, Sand, and the Brotherhood were determined to flood the market, bringing the price of revolution back down to earth.—
John Semley,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
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The real revolution in the space economy isn't rockets.—
Reema Khan,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Volcanic eruptions in the Massif Central gave birth to the granite rocks of the northern Rhône, while layers upon layers of calcareous marine deposits in the south gave rise to prominent sandstone formations.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
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In 2021, La Palma was stuck by a volcanic eruption that displaced thousands of people and reshaped parts of the island.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Apr. 2025
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Israel, which occupies huge swathes of southern Syria, will promote endless civil war for its own interests, keeping Syria in convulsions indefinitely.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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