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
The hysterical footage garnered 14,600 likes and 329,000 views.
—
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Babes Year: 2024 Runtime: 1h 44m Director: Pamela Adlon
Ilana Glazer of Broad City is hysterical in this pregnancy comedy about a single woman who gets knocked up on a one-night stand, only for her baby daddy to drop dead.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
Then inside the meeting, parents and opposing activists gave impassioned speeches on their thoughts on the situation, with multiple speakers yelling in hysterical tones.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 4 Jan. 2025
With hysterical plotlines involving things like intercourse with baked goods or hair gels made from bodily fluids?
—Benjamin Svetkey and Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hysterical 
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Babes Year: 2024 Runtime: 1h 44m Director: Pamela Adlon
Ilana Glazer of Broad City is hysterical in this pregnancy comedy about a single woman who gets knocked up on a one-night stand, only for her baby daddy to drop dead.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
Then inside the meeting, parents and opposing activists gave impassioned speeches on their thoughts on the situation, with multiple speakers yelling in hysterical tones.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 4 Jan. 2025
With hysterical plotlines involving things like intercourse with baked goods or hair gels made from bodily fluids?
—Benjamin Svetkey and Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hysterical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hysterical
Adjective
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The scene perfectly captures the absurdity of Toya throwing a party for her first Birkin—made even funnier by the group’s collective indifference.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
20 Jan. 2025
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Here is a clip of Roy Keane saying something funny about Tranmere.—
Rory Smith,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the meantime, state and city health departments are worried about how the communications pause might affect their communities.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
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A number of men and women on Mitchell’s team were worried about their health and safety, the lawsuit says, so Mitchell raised the issue during the training sessions.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Growers reported a drop in workers showing up to their jobs, and advocacy groups saw a surge of frightened families show up to legal workshops on how to protect themselves against deportation.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
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When Julia arrived with a can of cat food, the first kitten had already been adopted, but the second—a frightened and feisty tabby—was still there.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Saquon Barkley put up more ridiculous numbers in the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC Championship victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, leading to jabs at the New York Giants.—
Ryan Gaydos,
Fox News,
27 Jan. 2025
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Because 7½ minutes of real time to play 20 seconds of basketball is beyond ridiculous.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Everyone in the audience laughed when the capybara first appeared onscreen, even the little kid behind us who had cried earlier, scared of some of the calamities befalling the feline hero.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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One day, the story goes, the villagers discovered Nian was scared of loud noises, fire and the color red.—
Stephanie Lam,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The film takes viewers through her journey, filled with humorous and heartfelt moments, from open mic nights at comedy clubs to glamorous charity events, all set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Acid Comedy of Thomas Schütte: In a MoMA retrospective filled with humorous angst, the German sculptor offers a prime 2025 resolution: Don’t run from failure.—
Laurel Graeber,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Thirty minutes later, the Sun reported, medics still had not tended to a distraught woman half-buried by the shattered stands, groaning, with both legs apparently broken.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2025
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Viel found a distraught Pasadena woman who saw flames approaching a coop that housed pet chickens and ducks behind her home on Altadena Drive.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And, gosh, what is the deal with the rest of their graduating class (including a desperately funny Kelly McCormack, whose animus toward Agnes is both understandable and very amusing)?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2025
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Rogan found this amusing given Harris’s prior public support for cannabis reform but speculated her prosecutorial record on marijuana offenses might have influenced this decision.—
Tribune Content Agency,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hysterical
Cite this Entry
“Hysterical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hysterical. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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