Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for hysterical

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
“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
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • hysˈterically, adverb
Discover More

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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of hysterical1

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

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

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

From Salon

Ms Spencer told the court she had heard "crying", "rattling of doors", "a lot of door slamming" and "hysterical screaming at the children" coming from the flat.

From BBC

It’s a hysterical sequence for us viewers, but amid the laughs, we always remember Ani’s shock and confusion, which remain at the forefront throughout the film’s central search for Ivan.

From Salon

The hysterical screaming didn’t seem to stop but it didn’t bother me because, of course, I was also screaming my lungs out.

From BBC

Advertisement

Discover More

About This Word

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 Words 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 loads more at Thesaurus.com.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


hysterichysterically