Hysterics
noun
A state of uncontrollable laughter or crying.
She was in hysterics after hearing the joke.
Often appears as...
- burst into hysterics
- in hysterics
noun
A fit of uncontrollable laughter or emotional outburst.
The comedian had the entire audience in hysterics.
Often appears as...
- burst into hysterics
- in hysterics
noun
A psychological disorder (no longer in scientific use) whose symptoms include conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms, selective amnesia, shallow volatile emotions, and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior.
The old psychological term 'hysterics' is now considered outdated and not used in modern psychology.
Often appears as...
- case of hysterics
- symptoms of hysterics
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Academic
noun
A state of uncontrollable laughter or crying.
She was in hysterics after hearing the joke.
Often appears as...
- burst into hysterics
- in hysterics
noun
A fit of uncontrollable laughter or emotional outburst.
The comedian had the entire audience in hysterics.
Often appears as...
- burst into hysterics
- in hysterics
noun
A psychological disorder (no longer in scientific use) whose symptoms include conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms, selective amnesia, shallow volatile emotions, and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior.
The old psychological term 'hysterics' is now considered outdated and not used in modern psychology.
Often appears as...
- case of hysterics
- symptoms of hysterics
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Trigger
Used when something triggers extreme laughter or crying.
He couldn't tell the story without going into hysterics.
Pro Tip 2/3Overwhelming Response
It implies that the person’s response is beyond their control.
The surprise party threw her into hysterics.
Pro Tip 3/3Group Effect
Often occurs in a group setting where emotion is shared.
The entire class was in hysterics during the play.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Trigger
Used when something triggers extreme laughter or crying.
He couldn't tell the story without going into hysterics.
Pro Tip 2/3Overwhelming Response
It implies that the person’s response is beyond their control.
The surprise party threw her into hysterics.
Pro Tip 3/3Group Effect
Often occurs in a group setting where emotion is shared.
The entire class was in hysterics during the play.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Trigger
Used when something triggers extreme laughter or crying.
He couldn't tell the story without going into hysterics.
Pro Tip 2/3Overwhelming Response
It implies that the person’s response is beyond their control.
The surprise party threw her into hysterics.
Pro Tip 3/3Group Effect
Often occurs in a group setting where emotion is shared.
The entire class was in hysterics during the play.
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Video examples
How to teach kids to...
There's a class of nine- and ten-year-olds, and half of them are in hysterics because they think Abby has said something wildly funny, and the other half are yelling at her for saying something offensive. And then you have Abby, sitting there completely bewildered because, in her mind, she doesn't understand the weight of what she said
Video examples
How to teach kids to...
There's a class of nine- and ten-year-olds, and half of them are in hysterics because they think Abby has said something wildly funny, and the other half are yelling at her for saying something offensive. And then you have Abby, sitting there completely bewildered because, in her mind, she doesn't understand the weight of what she said
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Alexandra Daddario
American Actress
You do run and scream and cry and work yourself up into hysterics, and then you get back to the hotel at the end of the day, and you feel really off and really strange. And that's because rationally, even though you know everything is OK, you have put yourself through this traumatizing experience, and your body is still going.
Quote examples
Malcolm Nance
American Author
Waterboarding is slow-motion suffocation with enough time to contemplate the inevitability of blackout and expiration. Usually, the person goes into hysterics on the board. For the uninitiated, it is horrifying to watch. If it goes wrong, it can lead straight to terminal hypoxia - meaning, the loss of all oxygen to the cells.
Quote examples
James Wolcott
American Critic
The Beltway media went into caroming-off-the-walls hysterics over Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, whipping itself into a flaming casserole even as Clinton's standing with the American people remained upright and firm, so to speak.
Quote examples
Alex Zanardi
Italian Driver
The first time the doctors put on my prosthetic legs they made me much taller than I'd ever been. I then remember the doctor saying 'we need to shorten this man' and we all were in hysterics.
Quote examples
Dawn Powell
American Writer
A novel is like a gland pill - it nips off the cream of my hysterics and gets them running on track in a book where they belong instead of rioting all over my person.
Quote examples
Mike Gallagher
American Critic
The global warming hysterics don't just offer opinions and beliefs about greenhouse gases and the like. These are people who speak as if they belong to a cult.
Quote examples
Hope Davis
American Actress
I get to play a lot of hysterics.
Quote examples
Alexandra Daddario
American Actress
You do run and scream and cry and work yourself up into hysterics, and then you get back to the hotel at the end of the day, and you feel really off and really strange. And that's because rationally, even though you know everything is OK, you have put yourself through this traumatizing experience, and your body is still going.
Quote examples
Malcolm Nance
American Author
Waterboarding is slow-motion suffocation with enough time to contemplate the inevitability of blackout and expiration. Usually, the person goes into hysterics on the board. For the uninitiated, it is horrifying to watch. If it goes wrong, it can lead straight to terminal hypoxia - meaning, the loss of all oxygen to the cells.
Quote examples
James Wolcott
American Critic
The Beltway media went into caroming-off-the-walls hysterics over Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, whipping itself into a flaming casserole even as Clinton's standing with the American people remained upright and firm, so to speak.
Quote examples
Alex Zanardi
Italian Driver
The first time the doctors put on my prosthetic legs they made me much taller than I'd ever been. I then remember the doctor saying 'we need to shorten this man' and we all were in hysterics.
Quote examples
Dawn Powell
American Writer
A novel is like a gland pill - it nips off the cream of my hysterics and gets them running on track in a book where they belong instead of rioting all over my person.
Quote examples
Mike Gallagher
American Critic
The global warming hysterics don't just offer opinions and beliefs about greenhouse gases and the like. These are people who speak as if they belong to a cult.
Quote examples
Hope Davis
American Actress
I get to play a lot of hysterics.
Example 1 of 7
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