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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hysterical
By the time Lincoln won election in November 1860, hysterical editors predicted a Wide Awake attack on the South.
—
Jon Grinspan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
And so the story goes, filled with all manner of quirky and hysterical, including a bus that's powered by gerbils, a dean of students who's a hermit crab, and a bold mission to save the town of Antiquarium from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists.
—Mia Taylor, Parents, 4 Oct. 2024
The art market has come out the other side after a raft of techno-trends that, looking back, seem largely hysterical.
—Helen Holmes, ARTnews.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Arguably the best Python content ever produced, this positively hysterical feature finds each actor at the height of their side-splitting powers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hysterical 
Jon Grinspan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
And so the story goes, filled with all manner of quirky and hysterical, including a bus that's powered by gerbils, a dean of students who's a hermit crab, and a bold mission to save the town of Antiquarium from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists.
—Mia Taylor, Parents, 4 Oct. 2024
The art market has come out the other side after a raft of techno-trends that, looking back, seem largely hysterical.
—Helen Holmes, ARTnews.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Arguably the best Python content ever produced, this positively hysterical feature finds each actor at the height of their side-splitting powers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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This simultaneously funny and profound musical spins around a teenage girl (the lovable Carolee Carmello) suffering from a rare genetic disease that makes her age five times faster than normal.Karen D'Souza, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
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The jokes just aren’t funny enough — though there is one killer line about Shehzada, which was one of Aaryan’s major flops — and the scares aren’t terrifying enough.Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Although dissenters are worried about the cost, the climate change crisis harms everyone, even those who don’t live in a region that is at risk of wildfires.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Many Americans are not only worried about the outcome, but what might happen in the aftermath, regardless of who wins.Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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James Giordano, a neurobiology researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center, says getting frightened triggers a specific response in the human body.Jennifer Stavros, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
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Affected businesses can lose money or go bankrupt, because frightened customers choose to dine elsewhere.Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The duplication of effort, the ridiculous hours, and the endless inefficiencies were invisible.Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024
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The man’s ridiculous splashing now awoke a strange tender feeling in Craint, such as one might feel for something dear and helpless.Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Two of the biggest forces in all of Hollywood are joining forces, and everyone should be scared.Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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Most on each side are scared, not just concerned, if the other side wins, and while most voters express confidence this election is being conducted fairly and accurately, Harris voters are more confident than Trump voters are.Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Reddit Reacts Reddit users were entertained by the cake's humorous message.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Others offered a more humorous take on the situation, with one writing that whether the couple picks the name for a child depends largely on what the name actually is.Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The previews at the beginning and end of this week’s batch of episodes also show Ashley, Taylor, Monica, and Marissa all in tears or, at the very least, distraught.Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
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From there, an increasingly distraught Elisabeth comes to learn of a mysterious black market drug known as the Substance, which promises to deliver her a younger and more vital version of herself – with certain caveats.Dan Heching, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Though there are many examples that are less amusing.Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
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Hausman notes that the algorithm does not work perfectly, and like modern chatbots, the robots sometimes fail in surprising and amusing ways.Will Knight, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hysterical
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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