hysterical

adjective

hys·​ter·​i·​cal hi-ˈster-i-kəl 

1

or less commonly hysteric

hi-ˈster-ik 

: of, relating to, or marked by hysteria

hysterical conditions

2

: feeling or showing extreme and unrestrained emotion

hysterical fans

… the paper did not hesitate to appeal to racial passions in hysterical headlines and rabid editorials.

—The New Yorker

3

informal : very funny

a hysterical movie/joke

hysterically

hi-ˈster-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• antic
• chucklesome
• comedic
• comic
• comical
• droll
• farcical
• funny
• hilarious
• humoristic
• humorous
• killing
• laughable
• ludicrous
• ridiculous
• riotous
• risible
• screaming
• sidesplitting
• uproarious

Examples of hysterical in a Sentence

some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical

the police officer assured the mother that there was no need to get hysterical, for most missing children are found safe and sound

upon hearing the announcement that a shark had been sighted, hysterical beachgoers raced out of the water

Recent Examples on the Web

Ventura County Sheriff’s Captain Ken Truitt said the person who called police was hysterical and said her baby had been murdered, according to the Ventura County Star. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Related Stories Hooked On Bach: How Finneas O'Connell Went Classical For Alfonso Cuarón's 'Disclaimer' - Crew Call Podcast A Hero Meets A Tragic End In Cannes-Winning Oscar Contender 'The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent' These Creature Commandos are a hysterical, yet lovable bunch. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024

First of all, Jordan Peele’s impersonation of Reggie [VelJohnson, who played Carl] was just hysterical. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024

Answers ranged from the traditional to the sentimental to the downright hysterical. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hysterical

adjective

hys·​ter·​i·​cal his-ˈter-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or marked by hysteria

2

: feeling or showing unrestrained emotion

hysterical fans

3

informal : very funny

hysterically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

hysterical

adjective

hys·​ter·​i·​cal -ˈter-i-kəl 

variants also hysteric

-ˈter-ik 

: of, relating to, or marked by hysteria

during hysterical conditions various functions of the human body are disordered

—Morris Fishbein

hysterically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb