delirious

adjective

de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs How to pronounce delirious (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium
delirious mutterings
2
: affected with or marked by delirium
delirious with fever
delirious fans
deliriously adverb
deliriousness noun

Examples of delirious in a Sentence

As the child's temperature went up, he became delirious and didn't know where he was. He was delirious with fever. a group of delirious fans celebrating the team's victory
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
By that point the artist was far from Paris, in retreat from the Revolution, and the new paintings have a fleet, delirious, shut-in feel as if produced in a fever. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025 Krueger’s intensely internal yet physical performance has been crucial in portraying the full spectrum of Ben’s agony throughout his time on the show, from the delirious exhaustion of starvation to the panicked frustration of not being believed. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 Absurd and even delirious accusations were thrown at me, which deeply hurt my spirit. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025 Bong Joon Ho’s first film after Parasite is another satire, this time with a delirious sci-fi veneer. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for delirious

Word History

Etymology

see delirium

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of delirious was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delirious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delirious. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

delirious

adjective
de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs How to pronounce delirious (audio)
1
: affected with, marked by, or characteristic of delirium
2
: wildly excited
delirious fans
deliriously adverb
deliriousness noun

Medical Definition

delirious

adjective
de·​lir·​i·​ous di-ˈlir-ē-əs How to pronounce delirious (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of delirium
2
: affected with or marked by delirium
deliriously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on delirious

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