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
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Recent Examples of hysterical
There are several hysterical moments across the four episodes made available to critics.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
And yet, as the show depicts, Gibson did show up at Ainscough’s funeral and turned heads with her loud, hysterical sobbing.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
And that was hysterical — like, that’s pretty on-brand for us.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Social media users were left hysterical by the Frenchie's dramatic reaction and related to the loud cries.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
And yet, as the show depicts, Gibson did show up at Ainscough’s funeral and turned heads with her loud, hysterical sobbing.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
And that was hysterical — like, that’s pretty on-brand for us.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Social media users were left hysterical by the Frenchie's dramatic reaction and related to the loud cries.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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Now 40, playwright Jacobs-Jenkins—whose funny and startling family drama Appropriate, starring Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll, ran for seven months on Broadway last season, winning three Tonys along the way—has become a marquee name on the American stage.—
Marley Marius,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2025
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And my self-worth’s at an all-time low The music video is seemingly made for the internet, full of funny, relatable lines expressed via a satisfyingly upfront, upbeat delivery.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In my neighborhood, people are worried about rising costs of everything.—
Robin Holmes,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2025
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Safety concerns Residents were also worried about the safety of the gravel roads for horses.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Why do so many people love to be frightened and unnerved?—
Jeremy Engle,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
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But can dogs actually be frightened of heights like some humans?—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Many of the memes are ridiculous, poking fun at the Trump administration’s obvious ploy to pin the blame of any situation on DEI programs.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
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The 30-year-old center is averaging a rather ridiculous line of 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists on the season, while hitting almost 58% of his shots.—
Morten Stig Jensen,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Europeans seem presently more hurt than scared.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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Ingram had to miss the final 19 games of the regular season, but the Pelicans weren’t scared away by the issue.—
Shane Young,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The big picture: Parody accounts from Mount Rainier and Mount Hood are trading playful taunts and humorous one-upmanship, comparing body counts and jesting about whether size matters.—
Christine Clarridge,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
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Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.—
Aaron Couch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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After the Home Depot truck took off down the street, with Tatiana Pino in pursuit, the footage shows that the mail carrier did a U-turn and started to follow Pino’s vehicle, stopping briefly after Pino’s distraught daughter rushed outside and flagged him down.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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As for future plans, Stinchcombe’s so far unrealized ambition is to sell the debit card as a white label product to banks–a solution the banks could offer to families distraught about grandma’s out of control charitable charges or garden gnome purchases.—
Lindsey Choo,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Needless to say, TikTok users couldn't cope with the amusing video, and it's already generated mor than 2,200 comments online.—
Alyce Collins,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
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To the latter, watching Shauna blankly absorb an update about her daughter dumping a bag of animal guts onto a bully at school is both amusing and frustrating.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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