1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paroxysm
Even the Wimbledon crowd went into paroxysms for Andy Murray — after the points were over.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Before becoming vice president, Senator JD Vance’s introduction of a bill to raise the tax on large endowments from 1.4% to 35% for universities with endowments larger than $10 billion sent the right-side of social media world into paroxysms of ecstasy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
Wilson’s idealistic vision of a new U.S. role in the world collapsed in a paroxysm of partisanship.
—Charles A. Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The 55-year-old electrical engineer at the center of this postal paroxysm was an improbable target.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2014
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Before becoming vice president, Senator JD Vance’s introduction of a bill to raise the tax on large endowments from 1.4% to 35% for universities with endowments larger than $10 billion sent the right-side of social media world into paroxysms of ecstasy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
Wilson’s idealistic vision of a new U.S. role in the world collapsed in a paroxysm of partisanship.
—Charles A. Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The 55-year-old electrical engineer at the center of this postal paroxysm was an improbable target.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2014
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysm
Noun
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Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Amid the explosions, internet blackouts, and continued uncertainty, some Iranians are seeking a way out.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The conflict also triggered political tensions and economic upheaval, drawing incountries far beyond the Middle East.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
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For Washington, the diplomatic shift also reflects a broader effort to stabilize Venezuela after years of political upheaval and economic collapse that triggered one of the largest migration crises in the Western Hemisphere.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His signature performance was his eighth consecutive double-digit outburst and offered his loudest statement for All-WCC honors.—
Devin Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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But the sun is a relatively quiet star, and Earth's magnetic field is strong enough to protect our planet against those outbursts.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sunday's unrest came amid ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which began Thursday after Afghanistan launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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What does the unrest in the Strait of Hormuz mean for oil and gas prices?—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Andrew Baker, a coral scientist at the University of Miami, said a big burst of federal investment in coral restoration could benefit Florida's reefs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Gajjar and Brown calibrated how fluctuations in the solar wind and bursts from CMEs can affect narrowband signals, and averaged that over time.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And a hardline cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini, returned from exile to lead a revolution.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
This is the missing piece of the spatial computing revolution.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shares surged following the eruption of military strikes in the Middle East.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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But backsliding vaccination rates have increased the risk of massive eruptions and now threaten the nation’s measles elimination status.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the more-severe version is life-threatening, according to the FDA, and symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
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Infected animals often have tremors, convulsions, seizures and muscle weakness, Johnson said.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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