apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik 
1
2
a
: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
b
: extremely enraged
was apoplectic over the news
Synonyms
- angered
- angry
- ballistic
- cheesed off [chiefly British]
- choleric
- enraged
- foaming
- fuming
- furious
- hopping
- horn-mad
- hot
- incensed
- indignant
- inflamed
- enflamed
- infuriate
- infuriated
- irate
- ireful
- livid
- mad
- outraged
- rabid
- rankled
- riled
- riley
- roiled
- shirty [chiefly British]
- sore
- steamed up
- steaming
- teed off
- ticked
- wrathful
- wroth
Examples of apoplectic in a Sentence
Giuliani was apoplectic when the gangster fought off murder and racketeering charges and sauntered out of court in March 1987 after a sensational acquittal to bask in the TV lights.
—
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000
The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice.
—David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997
Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as to their newsmagazines.
—Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996
She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated.
the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, June 2000
The quarrel was splendidly acrimonious. When Charles Perrault, now remembered for his fairy tales, rose in the French Academy in 1687 to champion modern authors, Nicolas Boileau, the arbiter of taste, waxed so apoplectic he lost his voice.
—David Coward, New York Times Book Review, 27 Apr. 1997
Don Hewitt, the program's venerable executive producer, becomes positively apoplectic when I mention the subject during a conversation about Amanpour's job negotiations. The three networks had offered her the opportunity to contribute to their evening news shows as well as to their newsmagazines.
—Leslie Bennetts, Vanity Fair, September 1996
She was positively apoplectic with anger when she realized she had been cheated.
the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court
Recent Examples on the Web
The Biden White House has been apoplectic about it.
—Axios, 11 July 2024
As Saddam had expected, the Israeli government was apoplectic and wanted desperately to retaliate, but Saddam's plan was foiled when Israel was prevented from doing so by Washington.
—Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
He’s aided by viral videos that spread apoplectic anger among supporters, never mind what is actually happening on the ground.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024
But people were downright apoplectic about the idea of Dobson leaving her cart unrestrained.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for apoplectic 
Axios, 11 July 2024
As Saddam had expected, the Israeli government was apoplectic and wanted desperately to retaliate, but Saddam's plan was foiled when Israel was prevented from doing so by Washington.
—Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
He’s aided by viral videos that spread apoplectic anger among supporters, never mind what is actually happening on the ground.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024
But people were downright apoplectic about the idea of Dobson leaving her cart unrestrained.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for apoplectic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apoplectic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near apoplectic
Cite this Entry
“Apoplectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apoplectic. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with or inclined to stroke
3
: seeming likely to cause stroke
an apoplectic rage
also
: very angry
was apoplectic over the news
Medical Definition
apoplectic
adjective
ap·o·plec·tic
ˌap-ə-ˈplek-tik
1
: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2
: affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
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