Paroxysm
noun
A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity.
He went into a paroxysm of rage.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of anger
- paroxysm of laughter
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A sudden and severe attack of pain, laughter, rage, or any other emotion.
His face turned ashen as another paroxysm of pain seized him.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of coughing
- paroxysm of disease
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A sudden and uncontrollable outburst of an activity or emotion.
The patient had a paroxysm of anxiety.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of fear
- paroxysm of anxiety
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity.
He went into a paroxysm of rage.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of anger
- paroxysm of laughter
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A sudden and severe attack of pain, laughter, rage, or any other emotion.
His face turned ashen as another paroxysm of pain seized him.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of coughing
- paroxysm of disease
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A sudden and uncontrollable outburst of an activity or emotion.
The patient had a paroxysm of anxiety.
Often appears as...
- paroxysm of fear
- paroxysm of anxiety
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Indicator
Use 'paroxysm' to describe an intense episode of an emotion or activity, suggesting it's extreme.
He collapsed in a paroxysm of grief at the news.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Eruption
'Paroxysm' often implies the event is sudden and may surprise those around.
A paroxysm of laughter overtook her during the solemn ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Brief Duration
A 'paroxysm' typically does not last a long time; it's a brief outburst.
After a short paroxysm of anger, he regained his composure.
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Indicator
Use 'paroxysm' to describe an intense episode of an emotion or activity, suggesting it's extreme.
He collapsed in a paroxysm of grief at the news.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Eruption
'Paroxysm' often implies the event is sudden and may surprise those around.
A paroxysm of laughter overtook her during the solemn ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Brief Duration
A 'paroxysm' typically does not last a long time; it's a brief outburst.
After a short paroxysm of anger, he regained his composure.
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Indicator
Use 'paroxysm' to describe an intense episode of an emotion or activity, suggesting it's extreme.
He collapsed in a paroxysm of grief at the news.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Eruption
'Paroxysm' often implies the event is sudden and may surprise those around.
A paroxysm of laughter overtook her during the solemn ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Brief Duration
A 'paroxysm' typically does not last a long time; it's a brief outburst.
After a short paroxysm of anger, he regained his composure.
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Video examples
Luke Syson: How I...
then there was really only one fate possible. So, there I was -- in a sort of paroxysm of horror. But I took the job and I went on looking at these vases.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 272 PIPE...
ah well I have marvelous news news that will astound and delight you news that will send you into a paroxysm of joy
Video examples
Luke Syson: How I...
then there was really only one fate possible. So, there I was -- in a sort of paroxysm of horror. But I took the job and I went on looking at these vases.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 272 PIPE...
ah well I have marvelous news news that will astound and delight you news that will send you into a paroxysm of joy
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Rachel Simmons
American Author
Social media forces girls to bear witness to painful realities of relationship that were previously hidden from view. It is a new kind of TMI, or 'too much information': publicly posted photographs of an outing or party you did not attend, or a personal web page like Formspring, can send a girl into paroxysms of anxiety and grief.
Quote examples
Tom Shales
American Writer
Jerry Seinfeld is amazing in many ways, not the least of them his ability to find humor, and convincing us to find it, too, in the million-and-two details about modern life that under different circumstances might send us into paroxysms of rage.
Quote examples
Steven Levy
American Journalist
Technology writers are seldom subject to frenzied, Beatlemania-esque paroxysms of public attention. June 29, 2007, was the exception. I was in the wrong place - Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan - with the right device. The iPhone.
Quote examples
Rachel Simmons
American Author
Social media forces girls to bear witness to painful realities of relationship that were previously hidden from view. It is a new kind of TMI, or 'too much information': publicly posted photographs of an outing or party you did not attend, or a personal web page like Formspring, can send a girl into paroxysms of anxiety and grief.
Quote examples
Tom Shales
American Writer
Jerry Seinfeld is amazing in many ways, not the least of them his ability to find humor, and convincing us to find it, too, in the million-and-two details about modern life that under different circumstances might send us into paroxysms of rage.
Quote examples
Steven Levy
American Journalist
Technology writers are seldom subject to frenzied, Beatlemania-esque paroxysms of public attention. June 29, 2007, was the exception. I was in the wrong place - Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan - with the right device. The iPhone.
Example 1 of 3
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