variants
also hysteric
1
as in funny
causing or intended to cause laughter
some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worried
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
the police officer assured the mother that there was no need to get hysterical, for most missing children are found safe and sound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
upon hearing the announcement that a shark had been sighted, hysterical beachgoers raced out of the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hysterical
Feathers’s dead-eyed, emotionless stare, combined with Gromit’s expressions, make for hysterical viewing as the penguin replaces him as Wallace’s companion.
—
Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
Berlin is a city in a nearly hysterical hunt for secret Nazis believed to be lurking in the shadows.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Then, inside the meeting, parents and opposing activists gave impassioned speeches about their thoughts on the situation, with multiple speakers yelling in hysterical tones.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
The analogy is typically dismissed by MAGA voters as a hysterical exaggeration, while its usefulness in liberal or leftist critiques of Trump seems minimal.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
Berlin is a city in a nearly hysterical hunt for secret Nazis believed to be lurking in the shadows.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Then, inside the meeting, parents and opposing activists gave impassioned speeches about their thoughts on the situation, with multiple speakers yelling in hysterical tones.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
The analogy is typically dismissed by MAGA voters as a hysterical exaggeration, while its usefulness in liberal or leftist critiques of Trump seems minimal.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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Not the most memorable, but Myers’s flail-laughing at his own insufferable jokes remains a pretty funny encapsulation of Musk’s self-satisfied riffing.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
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Know your audience—What one person finds funny, another might not.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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About 47 million people faced an enhanced to moderate severe storm threat from Madison, Wis., to Birmingham, Ala. Forecasters grew increasingly worried that intense thunderstorms farther south will likely bring an even greater tornado threat Saturday.—
Sean Murphy and Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
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The polling of 1,000 U.S. adults found more than 60 percent of Americans are worried about Medicare and Medicaid cuts under the new budget.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And this week, there’s a very nice sequence in which Matty walks a frightened Zoey, step-by-step, through what to expect when she gets arrested.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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Igor tries to subdue Ani, who's frightened and enraged, kicking and screaming at the prospect of being separated from her new husband.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Brendan Gallagher scored a goal in that game on the power play, taking a ridiculous feed from Andrei Markov in the slot and converting, blowing the roof off the building.—
Arpon Basu,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Bam Adebayo only taking seven shots each in the last two games is ridiculous.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As the scream queen, there’s a role that Sam’s character can play, either angry at Paul, fighting back, or super scared.—
Barry Levitt,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2025
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TikTok is eating our lunch, and executives are scared.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The talented cast of BET Plus’s hit show Sistas brings to life the heartfelt, relatable, and often humorous journey of modern Black women navigating love, friendship, and career.—
Noel Cody,
Essence,
7 Mar. 2025
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Gercke is quite skilled at building characters and writing humorous and poetic dialogue.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The victim’s parents were too distraught to speak to reporters Wednesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
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At the start of court Wednesday, a visibly distraught Lopes had a sidebar with White and prosecutors; following that meeting, White cleared the courtroom.—
Jakob Rodgers,
The Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Blue Ghost Mission 1 is also known as Ghost Riders in the Sky, an amusing reference to a country song about ghostly cattle and cowboys.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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His effort to put an amusing spin on the buyer’s remorse is certainly a cut above the anti-Musk bumper stickers that have become internet bestsellers and now adorn many a Tesla — including Cybertrucks.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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