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
Many of the young men peeling away from the Democrats came of age during in the social paroxysms of recent years: #MeToo, DEI, online cancellations—cultural changes that some men interpreted as hostile to them.
—
Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
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
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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Social Security Administration leadership upheaval The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is not a federal department.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
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Of course, the underlying conditions that created a seismic social upheaval to which those individuals and institutions are responding did not materialize overnight.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
27 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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For a color burst, look to Proenza Schouler, Dear Frances, and Cos—these pleasant spring hues will break up the dreariness of the current season.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2025
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Customers, including businesses, governments and individuals, will be able to request light bursts by simply entering their location's GPS coordinates online.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The film follows Dormer as Dr. Audrey Evans, who is fighting her own revolution amidst the resistance to the Vietnam War in 1960s Philadelphia.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Can community cinema survive the streaming revolution?—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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While such an eruption of fires is rare, Wood, the South Carolina Forestry Commission spokesperson, told NBC affiliate WCBD of Charleston over the weekend that the region is in peak fire season weather.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Instead, based on observations of more recent eruptions, an extremely hot ash cloud that dissipated quickly could have created the conditions necessary for the vitrification of human brain tissue to occur, the study concluded.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
27 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 9 Mar. 2025.
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