hysterical

[hi-ster-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. uncontrollably emotional.

2. irrational from fear, emotion, or an emotional shock.

3. causing unrestrained laughter; very funny.

   Oh, that joke is hysterical!

   Synonyms: ludicrous, laughable, uproarious, hilarious

4. Psychoanalysis, Psychiatry.

   1. of, relating to, or characterized by hysteria.

      hysterical psychosis.

   2. causing hysteria.

   3. experiencing or subject to hysteria.

      hysterical patients.

hysterical

/ hɪˈstɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or suggesting hysteria

   hysterical cries

2. suffering from hysteria

3. informal,  wildly funny

Other Word Forms

• hysterically adverb
• overhysterical adjective
• posthysterical adjective
• semihysterical adjective
• unhysterical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hysterical¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin hysteric(us) hysteric + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“He was traumatized and hysterical that his house was destroyed, his two dogs and two cats were inside and that they were all dead,” Hirscher said in a phone interview.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Monday, after the drawing was published, the caterwauling from the White House grew hysterical.

Read more on Salon

It’s not hysterical to think it could happen.

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She titled the album in reference to the dismissive way women were described as “hysterical” in the 1950s and ’60s — “women who were depressed or anxious or just feeling normal emotions,” she says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The result is a hysterical, breezy dark comedy that confidently skewers viewer expectations and flips that old “Misery” script on its head, asking us to hear Annie Wilkes and her cinematic sisters out.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• agitated 
• crazy 
• distraught 
• emotional 
• frantic 
• frenzied 
• furious 
• impassioned 
• mad 
• nervous 
• neurotic 
• overwrought 
• passionate 
• uncontrollable 
• vehement 
• violent 

When To Use

More context on hysterical

In everyday usage, hysterical means "uncontrollably emotional."But guess who usually gets marked with that label? Women. What’s more, hysterical comes from the Greek word for "womb." It was once thought that hysteria was a condition that only affected women—and was caused by disturbances in the uterus.

Given the sexism associated with this word, hysterical isn’t exactly a laughing matter.

If knowing the history of hysterical has got you reflecting on your word choices, this slideshow, "These Common Words Have Offensive Histories," discusses many other words whose place in your vocab you may want to reconsider.