1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
Darwin's introduction of the theory of evolution created paroxysms in both religion and science that are still being felt today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paroxysm
For Fu, a 24-year-old graduate student in Beijing, this month’s paroxysms don’t change much on the ground.
—
Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
This confession sends O’Brien into paroxysms of rage, and ends with a surreal conclusion that is pretty, pretty good.
—Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
In interviews with a dozen survivors across Rwanda in the two days preceding the commemoration on Sunday, many spoke about the paroxysm of violence that gripped this lush, landlocked nation.
—Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
This confession sends O’Brien into paroxysms of rage, and ends with a surreal conclusion that is pretty, pretty good.
—Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
In interviews with a dozen survivors across Rwanda in the two days preceding the commemoration on Sunday, many spoke about the paroxysm of violence that gripped this lush, landlocked nation.
—Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysm
Noun
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Given the explosion of WNBA collectibles — a Caitlin Clark rookie card sold for $234,850 back in December, or roughly the current max salary a WNBA player can earn under the current CBA — this is some extremely high-value territory.—
Howard Megdal,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Plans for the upcoming flight test, which SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced this week, come a little more than a month since the last Starship launch ended in an explosion minutes after lifting off from Starbase in South Texas.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The annual Conservative Political Action Conference is mere days away, with this year’s event starting a few weeks after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and ensuing massive upheaval of the U.S. government.—
Asher Notheis,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
17 Feb. 2025
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Both countries are also locked in political upheavals that stand to slow any responses.—
BYJason Ma,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Still, his 2025 projections (28 HRs, 88 RBIs, 28 SBs) are more along the lines of his 2022 AL Rookie of the Year campaign rather than his 2023 outburst (32 HRs, 103 RBIs, 37 SBs).—
Larry Holder,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Now comes Baldwin’s latest public outburst, around the same time as his show’s premiere.—
Martha Ross,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Political tensions rise over resource allocation, with social unrest more frequent.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Pro-Palestinian sentiments still run strong among the peoples of the region, and history has proven how civil unrest can quickly lead to instability even in nominally stable nations.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This can cause those magnetic fields to collide and release energetic particles close to the speed of light, giving off bright bursts of radiation that are ejected outward, similar to that of a solar flare from the sun, Yusef-Zadeh says.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2025
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Since 2022, the marathon’s energy and variety has sprawled over a weekend and a borough, with a burst of performances at spaces around Brooklyn.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The fusion of blockchain, AI and decentralized governance models is already disrupting some industries, and those who embrace these changes could be at the forefront of the digital revolution.—
Daniel Levy,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Syria and Libya are very different countries, but Libya, too, experienced an Arab Spring revolution that pitted multiple armed groups against a longtime dictator.—
Maha Yahya,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Both years saw eruptions at the Crater Peak vent, located two miles south of the volcano’s summit.—
Maria Aguilar Prieto,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
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This week, lava fountains from Kilauea's north vent reached heights of 330 feet during the early hours of the eruption, with a slow effusion of lava from the south vent later.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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If a more severe form develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, the FDA says.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2025
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Symptoms may include stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
4 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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