Definition of HYSTERIA (original) (raw)
2
: behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Post-Challengers churro hysteria, the 34-year-old has certainly cemented his status as one of the most in-demand stars of his generation. —
Riann Phillip, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 While others, including Danes and Americans, are entitled to their opinions, we should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures distract us from our path. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 My latest: The left devolves into hysteria over Trump. —Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 In this case, the ban was rushed through amid hysteria that the Chinese government would collect information on Americans and influence them through the platform. —The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hysteria 
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from English hysteric, adjective, from Latin hystericus, from Greek hysterikos, from hystera womb; from the Greek notion that hysteria was peculiar to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus
First Known Use
1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of hysteria was in 1772
Dictionary Entries Near hysteria
Cite this Entry
“Hysteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteria. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 11 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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