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: ludicrous, laughable, uproarious, hilarious

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

/ hɪˈstɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or suggesting hysteria

   hysterical cries

2. suffering from hysteria
3. informal.
   wildly funny

Derived Forms

• hysˈterically, adverb

Other Words From

• hys·ter·i·cal·ly adverb
• o·ver·hys·ter·i·cal adjective
• post·hys·ter·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·hys·ter·i·cal adjective
• un·hys·ter·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hysterical¹

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

Example Sentences

Jesse Watters unlocked new frontiers in conservative psychology on Friday, saying on Fox News' "The Five" that "dad" Donald Trump was going to kick off a "hysterical" program of mass deportation.

From Salon

"And they deserve to be taken away. Sometimes, you have to do tough stuff, but AOC is going to be there tying herself to migrants. It’s gonna be hysterical."

From Salon

Despite all the hysterical proclamations about emasculation, men have nothing to fear from President Kamala Harris.

From Salon

As Sally flees in the bed of a pickup truck, hysterical and soaked in blood, Leatherface dances with his chain saw, an expression of frustration at losing his quarry, but also the reaction of someone who won’t be punished or held to account.

From Slate

It sticks with us because of how vividly it captured the hysterical unreality of living in a turbulent age, and how it picked at the scabs crusting over the face of the American dream.

From Slate

Related Words

• agitated
• crazy
• distraught
• emotional
• frantic
• frenzied
• furious
• impassioned
• mad
• nervous
• neurotic
• overwrought
• passionate
• uncontrollable
• vehement
• violent