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Glite Dictionary
🤒 Confused from illness 🎉 Wildly excited
delirious

delirious

17 7.0
Confused and sometimes seeing or hearing things because of an illness like a fever
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈlɪrɪəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : delirante
  • After several days of high fever, she was delirious and could hardly recognize her family.
  • delirious with fever
  • become delirious
  • delirious with pain

And so they all just thought I was delirious and, and, and they called the doctor to come in.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • By the time we got to the Loop, he was delirious and talking to his mother.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Finally, someone finds him, completely delirious, rambling on about the fabulous gold strike.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • And so they all just thought I was delirious and, and, and they called the doctor to come in.

    André Duqum

  • I had to be delirious before I could stay home sick.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Well, I'd say you are delirious due to lack of sleep.

    Werewolf Cabal (2022)

  • She was delirious with fever.

    Double Indemnity (1944)

  • Tuomas became delirious with the fever and continued to cough up blood.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When he returned at last with help, Caitlin was delirious and the fever had settled in little Rowan's lungs.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The press described the finals of the 800 meters as "eleven wretched women fainting or delirious."

    Academic text (2003)

  • Mickey and Mallory are slumped against the driving wheel, delirious, struggling for breath, sweating heavily.

    Fiction book (1994)

Synonyms

disoriented
vsdelirious
41 4.1

Unable to think clearly or know where you are

involves stronger mental disturbance including fever confusion and hallucinations
dazed
vsdelirious
40 4.8

Not able to think and act clearly after a shock or when very tired

is usually caused by illness with more active confusion and hallucinations
discombobulated
vsdelirious
  • Informal
2 9.9

Confused and unable to think clearly after something unexpected

is a more intense illness linked state with possible hallucinations
spaced-out
vsdelirious
  • Informal
1 8.7

Not fully paying attention and feeling confused or dreamy

is a medical state with fevered confusion and hallucinations
nonlucid
vsdelirious
  • Specialized
8.4

Confused and unable to think clearly

is a more clinical label while the other involves fevered excitement and hallucinations

Antonyms

sane
119 3.2

Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly

clearheaded
1 4.9

Able to think clearly and make good decisions

How Confused

delirious
  • Specialized
17 7.0
confused
692 1.3
drowsy
22 2.7

Surface Forms

delirious positive

Morphology

delirious = delirium (transparent) = delirium + ous

A straightforward adjectival derivation from the noun 'delirium' describing the state characteristic of that noun.

Etymology

Delirious comes from the Latin delirare, from de- 'off' and lira 'furrow', giving the idea of going 'off the track'. Because a mind can go 'off the track' during a fever or illness, delirious also means confused or having strange, wild thoughts, as in delirium.