hysterical
- adjective
- /hɪˈstɛrɪkəl/
- Informal
- She became hysterical when she heard the shocking news and could barely catch her breath.
- become hysterical
- slightly hysterical
- hysterical fear
My parents said she was hysterical thinking that her parents were dead.
- My parents said she was hysterical thinking that her parents were dead.
- At that point, you know you're hysterical and upset.
- They put him on Ella, she's crying and hysterical and he just starts peeing everywhere.
- No, I'm hysterical at this point if I've lost it, lost it.
- had more hysteria, and then we just are all becoming hysterical, and it's getting worse.
- I thought maybe I have had an hysterical seizure.
- And so it has been leaked that there were audible tears and a complete hysterical meltdown.
- And the New Left is not only emotional, but hysterical.
- I didn't understand why they were so hysterical.
- You know, I don't like that Meg Ryan is just kind of seen as this more hysterical woman in a way.
- I'm, I'm being a slightly, slightly hysterical historical.
Examples
-
At that point, you know you're hysterical and upset.
-
And I just burst out into hysterical tears.
-
My parents said she was hysterical thinking that her parents were dead.
-
What are you getting hysterical about?
-
I was the kind of kid who could be made hysterical by such a story.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Two weeks ago, she had become hysterical when she was asked about it."
Fiction book (1992) -
When anyone attempts to ask questions about that time, she either gets hysterical or freezes up.
Fiction book (1990) -
Bollin went directly up to the hysterical woman and drew her back from the doorway.
Fiction book (1992) -
From the pangs of hunger, Big Jim was becoming delirious, hysterical.
-
You cried dreadfully... not like a child... a grown-up crying... like a hysterical young girl.
Fiction book (1993)
Synonyms
Very excited and unable to stay calm
Very worried and acting quickly in a wild, uncontrolled way
Being very upset and worried so you cannot think clearly
Very wild and out of control, seeming crazy
Excited and hurried because of strong feelings
Acting or speaking in a wild, not sensible way
Showing too much feeling for the situation
Acting in a wild and uncontrolled way
Showing extreme, uncontrolled emotion
Showing very strong feelings that change quickly and seem too much
Showing extreme, uncontrolled emotion that upsets or frightens others
Antonyms
Compounds
- Archaic
A condition where a person has sudden strong emotions and temporary loss of movement or feeling
How Emotional
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Hysterical comes from the old Greek word hystera meaning 'womb', because ancient doctors believed strong emotions came from the womb. That's why hysterical now describes someone who is 'extremely or uncontrollably emotional'.