apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik 
1
2
a
: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
b
: extremely enraged
was apoplectic over the news
Examples of apoplectic in a Sentence
Giuliani was apoplectic when the gangster fought off murder and racketeering charges and sauntered out of court in March 1987 after a sensational acquittal to bask in the TV lights.
—
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000
The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice.
—David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997
Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as to their newsmagazines.
—Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996
She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated.
the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000
The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice.
—David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997
Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as to their newsmagazines.
—Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996
She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated.
the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
Recent Examples on the Web
But what Democrats are certain of is that if the shoe was on the other foot, Republicans would be apoplectic at such a deal.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly waxed apoplectic at any reference to the American-Russian alliance that defeated Nazism.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
Several movie studio and streaming industry executives who spoke with CNN are downright apoplectic, my colleagues Brian Stelter and Jamie Gangel write.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
Needless to say, the terrorist groupie’s apologists at Brown were apoplectic that this savage had been tossed out of the country.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apoplectic
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Al Weaver, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly waxed apoplectic at any reference to the American-Russian alliance that defeated Nazism.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
Several movie studio and streaming industry executives who spoke with CNN are downright apoplectic, my colleagues Brian Stelter and Jamie Gangel write.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
Needless to say, the terrorist groupie’s apologists at Brown were apoplectic that this savage had been tossed out of the country.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apoplectic
Cite this Entry
“Apoplectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apoplectic. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with or inclined to stroke
3
: seeming likely to cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
also
: very angry
was apoplectic over the news
Medical Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
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