delirium
noun
de·lir·i·um
di-ˈlir-ē-əm 
1
: an acute (see acute sense 1a(2)) mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations
2
: frenzied excitement
he would stride about his room in a delirium of joy—
Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Wolfea crowd in a state of delirium
Synonyms
Examples of delirium in a Sentence
In her delirium, nothing she said made any sense.
shoppers running around in a delirium the day before Christmas
Recent Examples on the Web
The first part of Perry’s over-the-top thriller series features many unbelievable twists and turns throughout its eight episodes, but none match the absolute delirium of Rain’s arc.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Ping Pong seems to be saying that there’s something juvenile in watching two boys smack balls back and forth, but also that experiencing their joyous delirium is worth it.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024
Other signs that your child may be experiencing a rare complication of rotavirus include confusion, delirium, and extreme sleepiness.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
The reference again to excited delirium in connection with Mitchell’s death perhaps owes to the term’s decades-long use among US first responders.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for delirium 
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Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Ping Pong seems to be saying that there’s something juvenile in watching two boys smack balls back and forth, but also that experiencing their joyous delirium is worth it.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024
Other signs that your child may be experiencing a rare complication of rotavirus include confusion, delirium, and extreme sleepiness.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
The reference again to excited delirium in connection with Mitchell’s death perhaps owes to the term’s decades-long use among US first responders.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for delirium
Dictionary Entries Near delirium
Cite this Entry
“Delirium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delirium. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
delirium
noun
de·lir·i·um
di-ˈlir-ē-əm
1
: a mental disturbance marked by confusion, disturbed speech, and hallucinations
2
: wild excitement
Medical Definition
delirium
noun
de·lir·i·um
di-ˈlir-ē-əm
: an acute (see acute sense 2b(1)) mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations
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