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View synonyms for

hysterical

[ hi-ster-i-kuhl ]

adjective

  1. uncontrollably emotional.
  2. irrational from fear, emotion, or an emotional shock.
  3. causing unrestrained laughter; very funny:

    Oh, that joke is hysterical!

    Synonyms: , , ,

  4. Psychoanalysis, Psychiatry.
    1. of, relating to, or characterized by hysteria:

      hysterical psychosis.

    2. causing hysteria.
    3. experiencing or subject to hysteria:

      hysterical patients.



hysterical

/ ɪˈɛɪə /

adjective

  1. of or suggesting hysteria

    hysterical cries

  2. suffering from hysteria
  3. informal.
    wildly funny
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱ, adverb
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Other yvlog Forms

  • ·ٱ··· adverb
  • ···ٱ·· adjective
  • Dz··ٱ·· adjective
  • ···ٱ·· adjective
  • ܲ··ٱ·· adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of hysterical1

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin hysteric(us) hysteric + -al 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Instead of focusing on a real issue, they say, politicians seized on a hateful and hysterical attack on trans people to advance a larger conservative agenda.

From

And here’s the point I want you to remember: When I say today, on January 27, that Trump’s gangster government is going to end badly—maybe even very badly—it sounds crazy and hysterical.

From

She added: "There's lots to love... When the writing is this good, it fizzes with the hysterical energy of perimenopause."

From

A panic-stricken girl who became hysterical after waking from a nap sparked a police investigation that uncovered one Scotland's biggest child abuse rings.

From

That's why the election of Barack Obama as president was regarded as an apocalyptic event in the white evangelical community, giving rise to hysterical claims that Christians are being "persecuted."

From

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About This yvlog

More context on hysterical

In everyday usage, hysterical means “uncontrollably emotional.”

But guess who usually gets marked with that label? Women. What’s more, hysterical comes from the Greek word for “womb.” It was once thought that hysteria was a condition that only affected women—and was caused by disturbances in the uterus.

Given the sexism associated with this word, hysterical isn’t exactly a laughing matter.

If knowing the history of hysterical has got you reflecting on your word choices, this slideshow, “These Common yvlogs Have Offensive Histories,” discusses many other words whose place in your vocab you may want to reconsider. 

Keep in mind …

Due to the history of hysterical, you may want to consider some less sensitive synonyms, such as frantic, frenzied, impassioned, or vehement.

Informally, hysterical is also often used to refer to something “extremely funny.” Here are some other synonyms you can try:

Looking for more synonyms for funny? We’ve got .

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