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apoplectic

adjective
ap·​o·​plec·​tic | \ ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik How to pronounce apoplectic (audio) \

Definition of apoplectic

1 medical : of, relating to, or causing apoplexy or stroke also : affected with, susceptible to, or showing symptoms of apoplexy or stroke

Note: Use of apoplectic in medical contexts relating to stroke still occurs but is now generally considered dated.

2a : of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke an apoplectic rage
b : extremely enraged was apoplectic over the news
Other Words from apoplectic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about apoplectic

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Other Words from apoplectic

apoplectically \ -​ti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce apoplectically (audio) \ adverb

Examples of apoplectic in a Sentence

Giuliani was apoplectic when the gangster fought off murder and racketeering charges and sauntered out of court in March 1987 after a sensational acquittal to bask in the TV lights. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000 The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice. — David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997 Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as the their newsmagazines. — Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996 She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated. the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Over the last year or so, a series of high-profile FTC enforcement actions have left critics of tech’s biggest privacy offenders—Google, Facebook, Equifax—somewhere between frustrated and apoplectic. — Wired, "Fines Alone Aren't Enough to Slow Down Big Tech," 4 Sep. 2019 Political art: Local Democratic Party activists are apoplectic over the San Francisco school board’s handling of the mural controversy at George Washington High School. — Willie Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Don’t underestimate Trump’s supporters. They can re-elect him just for the fun of it," 17 Aug. 2019 While Warriors fans are certainly disappointed to be losing the two-time NBA Finals MVP, nobody is as apoplectic as the ever-agitated New York Knicks fanbase surely is. — Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, "NBA Twitter is trolling Knicks fans, not Warriors fans, for Durant-to-Brooklyn," 30 June 2019 Elliott has served as a judge on MasterChef Junior, the popular kid-focused spin-off of Ramsay’s apoplectic MasterChef. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "The Wholesome Fun of Family Food Fight," 21 June 2019 According to numerous reports, Trump is allegedly increasingly apoplectic at the prospect of the Republicans losing at least one chamber of congress on November 6. — Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, "The Week in Washington: “There’s No Proof of Anything”," 28 Oct. 2018 Democrats remain apoplectic over how Republicans handled the probe. — Alex Ward, Vox, "Michael Cohen’s guilty plea proves the House GOP’s Russia investigation was a sham," 30 Nov. 2018 In video captured by apoplectic fans who spotted the duo at the show, Michelle (rocking a pair of white shorts) can be seen bopping right in front of the stage alongside Tina, who is equally enjoying herself. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Michelle Obama and Tina Knowles Lawson Danced Together in Paris," 16 July 2018 Critics and preservationists, apoplectic that the plan involved the destruction of a tiny garden designed in 1977 by the landscape architect Russell Page, pressured the museum to back down. — Justin Davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "This Time, a Much More Promising Attempt to Fix the Frick," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apoplectic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of apoplectic

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for apoplectic

French or Late Latin; French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein — see apoplexy

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More Definitions for apoplectic

apoplectic

adjective
How to pronounce apoplectic (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of apoplectic

informal : very angry and excited
medical, old-fashioned : relating to or caused by apoplexy

See the full definition for apoplectic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

apoplectic

adjective
ap·​o·​plec·​tic | \ ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik How to pronounce apoplectic (audio) \

Medical Definition of apoplectic

1 : of, relating to, or causing stroke
2 : affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
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