1 hysterical | Definition of hysterical

hysterical

adjective
hys·​ter·​i·​cal | \ hi-ˈster-i-kəl How to pronounce hysterical (audio) \

Definition of hysterical

1 : of, relating to, or marked by hysteria hysterical conditions
2 : feeling or showing extreme and unrestrained emotion hysterical fans … the paper did not hesitate to appeal to racial passions in hysterical headlines and rabid editorials. — The New Yorker
3 informal : very funny a hysterical movie/joke

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Other Words from hysterical

hysterically \ hi-​ˈster-​i-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce hysterically (audio) \ adverb

Examples of hysterical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bolsonaro for his part has dismissed the criticism of his government’s actions in the Amazon as hysterical. — National Geographic, "Near the Amazon fires, residents are sick, worried, and angry," 23 Aug. 2019 Competing with her for the most quivering coif is Henry Czerny as Grace’s increasingly hysterical father-in-law, while Adam Brody sets the tone with his signature smirkiness as reluctant brother-in-law Daniel. — Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘Ready or Not’ sacrifices horror for irony and laughs to skewer the 1 percent," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hysterical.' 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 hysterical

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for hysterical

hysterical

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of hysterical

: feeling or showing extreme and uncontrolled emotion : marked by hysteria
informal : very funny

hysterical

adjective
hys·​ter·​i·​cal | \ hi-ˈster-i-kəl\

Kids Definition of hysterical

1 : feeling or showing extreme and uncontrolled emotion hysterical laughter … the sight of blood really makes him hysterical.— Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
2 : very funny Your joke was hysterical.

Other Words from hysterical

hysterically adverb laugh hysterically

hysterical

adjective
hys·​ter·​i·​cal | \ -ˈter-i-kəl How to pronounce hysterical (audio) \
variants: also hysteric \ -​ˈter-​ik How to pronounce hysteric (audio) \

Medical Definition of hysterical

: of, relating to, or marked by hysteria during hysterical conditions various functions of the human body are disordered— Morris Fishbein

Other Words from hysterical

hysterically \ -​i-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce hysterically (audio) \ adverb
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