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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hysterical
One reporter said the fight should be called off, that Clay was hysterical and was endangering himself.
—
Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
A little after midnight on New Year’s Day, Francine Sohn was jolted awake by a phone call from a neighbor, who sounded hysterical.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2025
The hysterical footage garnered 14,600 likes and 329,000 views.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hysterical 
Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
A little after midnight on New Year’s Day, Francine Sohn was jolted awake by a phone call from a neighbor, who sounded hysterical.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2025
The hysterical footage garnered 14,600 likes and 329,000 views.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
-
The actor simply finds something too funny to contain him or herself.—
Tony Maglio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2025
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And McGrath, who didn’t resort to telling jokes or making funny faces to force a smile out of Krzystof, literally took matters into her own hands.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Extending safety Kyle Hamilton is likely a top priority for the Ravens' front office, but Hamilton isn't too worried about his contract.—
Brian Wacker,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2025
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That’s a lot of CO2, something airlines are increasingly worried about.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The roughly seven-minute conversation raises questions about how the misunderstanding occurred and why incorrect information was shared with an already frightened community.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
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Still, federal aviation officials assured frightened flyers that American airspace is among the safest places in the world to be on a plane.—
Jaime Moore-Carrillo,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So we’re spared the ridiculous presidential logorrhea.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
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These proved ridiculous at Oberlin, where dressing in janitor uniforms from thrift shops was considered the height of style.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For the past month, California resident Adriana, who asked to be identified by only her first name for privacy reasons, has been delivering food to families too scared to leave their homes.—
Kiara Alfonseca,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2025
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Ever since Donald Trump won the presidential election last November, kids around the country have been scared about what his promise of mass deportations might mean for them and their classmates.—
Vox Staff,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But if the feedback from the audience is any indication, this sometimes humorous and always emotional generational family tale will one day have a real opening night.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
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Harris’s portraits of celebrities such as Lena Horne, Muhammad Ali, and Jackie Robinson are noted for their reflective or dryly humorous tone, revealing new aspects of fame.—
Robert Alan Grand,
ARTnews.com,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Fans were distraught last year when rumor spread that the two were beefing.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
12 Feb. 2025
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Israelis have also remained distraught over the fate of family and friends who have been held hostage since the October 2023 attack by Hamas.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In another amusing shot, Tallulah wears a tank top emblazoned with a photo of her father's face in his younger days.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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Among the speakers were several coaches, including Evan Chalmers, who provided a variety of amusing quips and tales about his Laguna Beach High classmate and multiple-sports teammate.—
Richard Dunn,
Orange County Register,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hysterical
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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