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Glite Dictionary
paroxysm

paroxysm

3 9.9
A sudden strong burst of feeling, for example coughing or laughter
  • noun
  • /ˈpærəksɪzəm/
translation icon : paroxismo
  • The thought of the marriage sent my mother into paroxysms of anger and disgust.
  • paroxysms of violence

And this has this, this mortality awareness has created, you know, paroxysms of anxiety like throughout human history, right?

Examples

  • Winning the World Cup brought on paroxysms of patriotism in some very internationalist Frenchmen and women.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Then a brightly illuminated sphere descended gracefully downward, sending the assembled worshippers into paroxysms of celebration.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Who is that old lady that you threw your arms around, in a paroxysm of grief, who was that?

    Buried Alive (1990)

  • Shaking in paroxysms of laughter, she rolled around on the bed.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The shuddering mounted to a wracking paroxysm that lasted for several seconds.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Connie took a long, open-mouthed look and then bent almost double in a paroxysm of mirth.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Mrs. G. draws breath to scream, but her throat constricts in a paroxysm of horror, and no sound emerges.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Reasonable people might disagree—but why would any of this send a person into paroxysms of rage?

    Academic text (1991)

  • What results, however, is not stability but paroxysms of interethnic violence that emerge from the mismanagement of politico-economic crises.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The thought of losing her pet sent her into a paroxysm of grief, leaving her breathless.

Synonyms

fit
vsparoxysm
163 8.1

A sudden strong show of emotion, like a child's tantrum

is primarily a violent uncontrolled attack of feeling or activity
outburst
vsparoxysm
83 3.9

A sudden strong show of feeling like anger or laughter

is an uncontrolled, intense attack rather than a mere expression
hysteria
vsparoxysm
82 6.1

An extreme, uncontrolled feeling of fear or excitement

is an individual sudden attack rather than a prolonged or mass state
burst
vsparoxysm
57 3.5

A short, strong period of activity or feeling

lasts as an uncontrollable attack rather than only a short intense period
hysterics
vsparoxysm
  • Informal
14 5.9

A sudden time when someone cannot stop crying or laughing

is a single sudden attack rather than a prolonged excessive emotional state
blowup
vsparoxysm
  • Informal
7 6.1

A sudden angry outburst showing strong emotion

is broader, covering any sudden uncontrolled emotional attack not only anger
flare
vsparoxysm
5 5.3

A sudden strong feeling such as anger or excitement

is a more violent, uncontrollable attack rather than a brief surge
flood of emotion
vsparoxysm
1 3.6

A sudden strong feeling that is hard to control

is a sharp uncontrollable attack rather than a continuous overwhelming outpouring
surgency
vsparoxysm
8.5

A sudden strong movement or increase

is a sudden uncontrollable attack of emotion rather than a general rise
tidal wave of emotions
vsparoxysm
6.0

A sudden very strong feeling that you cannot control

is a sudden attack but often shorter and more explosive than a surge
flurry of emotions
vsparoxysm
5.0

A sudden short time when many strong feelings happen at once

is a single uncontrollable attack focused on one emotion or activity

How Intense

seizure
  • Specialized
190 5.5
paroxysm
3 9.9
fit
163 8.1
spasm
  • Specialized
58 3.9
twinge
17 4.9

Surface Forms

paroxysm singular
paroxysms plural

Etymology

Paroxysm comes from Greek parts para- 'beyond' and oxys 'sharp', giving the image of something suddenly becoming very sharp or strong. So a paroxysm is a sudden, powerful outburst or attack of feeling or symptoms.