hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
hi-ˈster-ē-ə 
-ˈstir-
-ˈstir-
1
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychogenic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral (see visceral sense 4) functions
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
political hysteria
The plague had caused mass hysteria in the village.
Synonyms
Examples of hysteria in a Sentence
A few of the children began to scream, and soon they were all caught up in the hysteria.
Wartime hysteria led to many unfair accusations of treachery.
The spreading of the disease caused mass hysteria in the village.
Recent Examples on the Web
It can be traced back to women being diagnosed with hysteria for laughing too much in the 19th century, which sociologists today say was an attack on female pleasure and enjoyment.
—
Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 30 July 2024
She was committed to every fashionable left-wing cause in a year of left-wing hysteria.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 July 2024
If the sightings are eventually disproven, there is an opportunity to study the event from a mass hysteria or misinformation perspective.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2024
Modern social platforms algorithmically amplify this kind of hysteria and skepticism.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for hysteria 
Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 30 July 2024
She was committed to every fashionable left-wing cause in a year of left-wing hysteria.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 July 2024
If the sightings are eventually disproven, there is an opportunity to study the event from a mass hysteria or misinformation perspective.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2024
Modern social platforms algorithmically amplify this kind of hysteria and skepticism.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for hysteria
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hysteria.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to hysteria
Dictionary Entries Near hysteria
Cite this Entry
“Hysteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteria. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
his-ˈter-ē-ə
-ˈtir-
-ˈtir-
1
: a nervous disorder marked by excitability of the emotions
2
: unmanageable fear or outburst of emotion
Medical Definition
hysteria
noun
hys·te·ria
his-ˈter-ē-ə
-ˈtir-
-ˈtir-
1
a
: a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral functions without an organic basis
b
: a similar condition in domestic animals
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
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