hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
hi-ˈster-ē-ə 
-ˈstir-
-ˈstir-
1
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychogenic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral (see visceral sense 4) functions
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
political hysteria
The plague had caused mass hysteria in the village.
Examples of hysteria in a Sentence
A few of the children began to scream, and soon they were all caught up in the hysteria.
Wartime hysteria led to many unfair accusations of treachery.
The spreading of the disease caused mass hysteria in the village.
Recent Examples on the Web
Echoes of the past During periods of nationalist hysteria, however, overreach is common.
—
Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
But while Opus parades as a critique of fame and those who kneel at its altar, Green offers no lasting observations of commodified narcissism, or of fans who get swept into a state of mass hysteria.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2025
The threat of cancer is rightfully something to take heed, however, opposing views from TikTok creators with expertise in scientific fields attempted to calm the hysteria and offer a nuanced interpretation of CR’s data.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The primary target of this left-wing hysteria is the Alternative for Germany, a right-wing party that just took second place in the Feb. 23 parliamentary elections.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysteria
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Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
But while Opus parades as a critique of fame and those who kneel at its altar, Green offers no lasting observations of commodified narcissism, or of fans who get swept into a state of mass hysteria.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2025
The threat of cancer is rightfully something to take heed, however, opposing views from TikTok creators with expertise in scientific fields attempted to calm the hysteria and offer a nuanced interpretation of CR’s data.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The primary target of this left-wing hysteria is the Alternative for Germany, a right-wing party that just took second place in the Feb. 23 parliamentary elections.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysteria
Articles Related to hysteria
Cite this Entry
“Hysteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteria. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
his-ˈter-ē-ə
-ˈtir-
-ˈtir-
1
: a nervous disorder marked by excitability of the emotions
2
: unmanageable fear or outburst of emotion
Medical Definition
hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
his-ˈter-ē-ə
-ˈtir-
-ˈtir-
1
a
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral functions without an organic basis
b
: a similar condition in domestic animals
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
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