Thesaurus results for PAROXYSMS

paroxysms

noun

plural of paroxysm

as in bursts

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall

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as in upheavals

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of paroxysms Preparing a tax return can trigger paroxysms of stress at the best of times. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 Also, stars in this frenzied state aren’t terribly stable; the fusion rate can be tempestuous, and the star undergoes incredibly violent paroxysms. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026 The post is now nearing a hundred million views and inspiring paroxysms of millennial self-reckoning. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysms

Noun

Back at Camp Cranium, bursts of laughter, whoops of delight and distant chatter punctuated the humid summer air.

— Lydia McFarlane, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
To achieve this, the locus coeruleus continuously alternates between tonic activity—governing baseline arousal and alertness—and brief phasic bursts that focus attention on critical events.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

The scandal in question erupted in the eighteen-thirties in the Prussian college town of Königsberg—today, after wars and upheavals, the isolated Russian city of Kaliningrad.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Like many in his generation Zhu’s early career was upended by the political upheavals of the Mao Zedong era.

— CNN Staff, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of upheavals

Noun

He was accused of two other antisemitic outbursts and was eventually convicted in France on hate-speech charges.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
The 36-year-old Hubble is also dropping in orbit because of all the sun's recent outbursts and is expected to reenter the atmosphere in the 2030s if nothing is done.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of outbursts

Noun

But in some cases, West Nile can reach the brain and cause extreme headaches, meningitis, tremors, convulsions and paralysis.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026
The gas was highly toxic to the respiratory system, causing asphyxiation, convulsions, and, in severe cases, death.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of convulsions

Noun

The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Over the course of its five-year mission, the Roman telescope will capture images of the Milky Way, survey the entire sky and observe supernova explosions that occurred as far as 8 billion years ago.

— Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

For comparison, regular drone propellers can rotate at several thousand revolutions per minute.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
From the viewpoint of the bourgeoisie, both Jews and the aristocracy advocated revolutions and radical change, and thus both attacked the status quo.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolutions

Noun

Mann said that the study doesn't have a complete record of corals over the past 1,000 years, and also that his research has shown that volcanic eruptions have played more of a role than climate change in past El Niño events.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Sonic booms, volcanic eruptions and meteor airbursts can produce similar atmospheric shock waves, potentially creating other natural seismic sources.

— Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of eruptions

Noun

The psychologist says these emotional responses are normal following an extreme experience such as the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.

— Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
The country, which has been under the complete control of the Taliban, has also experienced deadly strikes from Pakistan, earthquakes and widespread hunger and malnutrition.

— Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of earthquakes

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paroxysmal

paroxysms

parricide

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“Paroxysms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysms. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of paroxysms

noun

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