paroxysm Definition
- 1a sudden and violent expression of emotion, especially one that is a symptom of a mental or physical condition
- 2a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease
Using paroxysm: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "paroxysm" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was seized by a paroxysm of coughing.
Example
The patient experienced a paroxysm of pain.
Example
The news sent her into paroxysms of rage and despair.
paroxysm Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for paroxysm
Phrases with paroxysm
Example
The comedian's jokes sent the audience into paroxysms of laughter.
Example
The sad news brought on a paroxysm of weeping.
Example
The insult provoked a paroxysm of anger in him.
Origins of paroxysm
from Greek 'paroxusmos', meaning 'irritation, exasperation'
Summary: paroxysm in Brief
The term 'paroxysm' [ˈpærəksɪzəm] refers to sudden and violent expressions of emotion, often symptomatic of mental or physical conditions. It can also denote sudden attacks or increases in symptoms of a disease. Examples include 'He was seized by a paroxysm of coughing' and 'The news sent her into paroxysms of rage and despair.' Phrases like 'paroxysm of laughter' and 'paroxysm of weeping' describe sudden and uncontrollable fits of emotion.
