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Synonyms

hysterics

British  
/ hɪˈstɛrɪks /

noun

  1. an attack of hysteria

  2. informal wild uncontrollable bursts of laughter

"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

Example Sentences

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Yet even Honor is cowed by the household’s steely Yugoslav maid, Greta, who dismisses all heartbreaks and hysterics with the motto, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

Pupil A described pupil F as being in "slight hysterics" at this remark.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

Once recovered and breathing properly, one snicker from either of us in remembrance of what had been so funny, and off we would go, falling back into hysterics.

From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2024

As the scene ended, all the women were in hysterics, ribbing each other over how they could better play their parts next time.

From New York Times ● Jun. 3, 2024

The other two grools nearly had hysterics when we did.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

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