hysterical Definition
- 1affected by or deriving from wildly uncontrolled emotion
- 2extremely funny
Using hysterical: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hysterical" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She became hysterical when she heard the news.
Example
The comedian's performance was hysterical.
Example
The situation was so absurd that it was hysterical.
hysterical Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for hysterical
Idioms Using hysterical
laughing uncontrollably and for an extended period of time
Example
The movie was so funny that we were all laughing hysterically.
an outburst of uncontrolled emotion, typically characterized by crying, screaming, or laughing
Example
She had a hysterical fit when she found out that her cat had gone missing.
a derogatory term used to describe a woman who is perceived to be overly emotional or irrational
Example
He dismissed her concerns as those of a hysterical woman.
Phrases with hysterical
uncontrollable and prolonged fits of laughter
Example
The joke was so funny that it caused hysterical laughter in the audience.
a loss of vision that is not due to any physical cause but is caused by psychological factors such as extreme stress or trauma
Example
After the accident, she suffered from hysterical blindness and could not see anything for several days.
an extraordinary burst of strength exhibited by a person who is in a state of extreme emotional distress
Example
The mother lifted the car off her child with hysterical strength.
Origins of hysterical
from Latin 'hystericus', meaning 'of the womb', from Greek 'hustera', meaning 'womb'
Summary: hysterical in Brief
The adjective 'hysterical' [hɪˈsterɪkl] describes someone or something that is affected by or derives from wildly uncontrolled emotion, such as 'She became hysterical when she heard the news.' It can also mean 'extremely funny,' as in 'The comedian's performance was hysterical.' The phrase 'hysterical laughter' denotes uncontrollable fits of laughter, while 'hysterical blindness' refers to a loss of vision caused by psychological factors. 'Hysterical' extends into idioms like 'laughing hysterically,' and 'hysterical woman,' a derogatory term for an overly emotional woman.
