hysterical
/hɪˈstɛrɪk(ə)l
/adjective
1Affected by or deriving from wildly uncontrolled emotion: Janet became hysterical and began screaming the band were mobbed by hysterical fans...
- And as he watched her in confusion, Shelley's chuckle turned into an uncontrollable, hysterical fit of laughter.
- Approach this end room and the first thing noticed will be the hysterical, uncontrollable laughter.
- The young woman had crying fits, which were interspersed with screams and bursts of hysterical laughter.
Synonyms
overwrought, emotional, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, out of control, unrestrained, unrestrainable, frenzied, in a frenzy, frantic, wild, feverish;
beside oneself, driven to distraction, in a panic, agitated, neurotic;
mad, crazed, berserk, maniac, maniacal, manic, delirious, unhinged, deranged, out of one's mind, out of one's wits, raving
informal in a state
British informal swivel-eyed
1.1 informal Extremely funny: her attempts to teach them to dance were hysterical...
- How did this role come to you, this very funny, hysterical gun moll role?
- For the show, a group of puppeteers steps in and performs these calls with some very funny looking puppets on hysterical sets.
- Extreme gore and hysterical pratfalls all combine in a truly memorable mix.
Synonyms
hilarious, uproarious, very funny, very amusing, comical, comic, farcical
informal hysterically funny, side-splitting, rib-tickling, killing, killingly funny, screamingly funny, a scream, a hoot, a laugh, a barrel of laughs, a laugh a minute
2Relating to or suffering from hysteria.So I may be a cynical, hysterical, psychotic, twisted masochist....
- Such a figure is literally and etymologically hysterical, as it is excessively feminized; it is also psychoanalytically hysterical.
- Although Halle is not around to encounter Beloved, he too suffers trauma and exhibits hysterical symptoms.
