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.
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
We should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures distracting us from our path.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
In 19th-century Paris at the Salpêtrière Hospital, patients were hypnotized onstage to reproduce the symptoms of hysteria for public audiences.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
The hysteria around getting tickets has grown increasingly intense since McCartney and Bowery Ballroom announced the first show late on Tuesday morning, which sold out in minutes.
—Nick Robins-Early, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
With all the hype, hyperbole and hysteria, that’s what a Super Bowl telecast should be equated to.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysteria
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
In 19th-century Paris at the Salpêtrière Hospital, patients were hypnotized onstage to reproduce the symptoms of hysteria for public audiences.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
The hysteria around getting tickets has grown increasingly intense since McCartney and Bowery Ballroom announced the first show late on Tuesday morning, which sold out in minutes.
—Nick Robins-Early, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
With all the hype, hyperbole and hysteria, that’s what a Super Bowl telecast should be equated to.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hysteria
Articles Related to hysteria
Cite this Entry
“Hysteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteria. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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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