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Showing results for hysterical. Search instead for unhysterical.
Synonyms

hysterical

American  
[hi-ster-i-kuhl] / hɪˈstɛr ɪ kəl /

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 British  
/ hɪˈstɛrɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of or suggesting hysteria

    hysterical cries

  2. suffering from hysteria

  3. informal wildly funny

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

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. 

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of hysterical

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Weeks before Cynthia’s death, after Ortiz broke things off with Hatley, she allegedly became hysterical.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Lader, 40, described "grabbing babies who were being schlepped across the street, and finding parents who were hysterical that their kids weren't here."

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Actor and The Studio creator Seth Rogan said he was devastated by O'Hara's death, describing the actress as " hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Then there are the hysterical, bizarre misdirects of Adult Swim’s 2022 “Yule Log” and its 2024 sequel “Yule Log 2: Branchin’ Out,” both on HBO Max.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

Still, as Neewo’s miserable and now hysterical sobbing continued and even got stronger, she decided to make a grown-up decision and take Neewo from his cradle board.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.