1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paroxysm
Henry, afflicted by a psychic link to the monsters behind the veil of the Stranger Things universe, has to go into writhing, spitting paroxysms at least once every 20 minutes or so.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
The system came crashing down in a paroxysm of raw power politics, and the world was set ablaze.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Sudden fits or attacks, known as paroxysms, of rapid coughs.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
The system came crashing down in a paroxysm of raw power politics, and the world was set ablaze.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Sudden fits or attacks, known as paroxysms, of rapid coughs.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysm
Noun
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For the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, magnetic storms, triggered by colossal solar explosions, repeatedly disrupted those networks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Growing attraction Though specialized e-bike shops have been in operation for more than a decade, their recent explosion in business can be attributed to changes in offerings and price.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Each storm sparked a wave of scientific inquiry, until, in the early twentieth century, scientists finally understood why electrifying societies had grown precariously vulnerable to environmental upheavals on the Sun.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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With such upheaval in the front line, some teething problems are understandable.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Whoopi Goldberg made a remark that was censored on live TV on Thursday's The View, and later had a bizarre outburst on the air after Entertainment Weekly reached out to a show representative for comment.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Musk, whose partisan outbursts reportedly cost Tesla one million sales, remains the world’s wealthiest person, and could become the first-ever trillionaire.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The unrest presents a test for Hassan, who won plaudits after taking office in 2021 for easing repression of opponents and censorship that had increased under her predecessor John Magufuli.—
Reuters 10 hr ago,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ingram’s running mate, junior G’yrell Smith, was another key contributor with 160 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 attempts — the highlight of his performance was a 90-yard third quarter touchdown burst.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
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Wilson ran through traffic with a violent burst to pick up a first down and iced the game on a 6-yard run.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the wake of the accident, and others related to air traffic control, some called to integrate the powerful technologies behind the AI automation revolution.—
Eoin Higgins,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
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Here’s What Real Pro-Family Policy Looks Like Today, some political leaders want to reverse that revolution.—
Stephanie Psaki,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sulfuric aerosols trapped in ice cores suggest that a truly massive volcanic eruption took place in 1809, followed by a succession of smaller eruptions that culminated in the staggering explosion of Mount Tambora in 1815.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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While tectonic activity is the leading cause, earthquakes can also result from volcanic eruptions, underground explosions, and human activities like mining or large-scale construction.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
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Symptoms can be severe and include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes following gastrointestinal symptoms.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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