Definition of PAROXYSM (original) (raw)
1
: a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion
convulsed … in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure—
Thomas Hardy
2
: a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst
Did you know?
Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately erupted from the Greek verb paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." (Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp.") In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm referred to a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease—such as pain, coughing, shaking, etc.—that often occur again and again. This sense is still in use, but paroxysm soon took on a broader and now much more common sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one, as in "paroxysms of rage/laughter/joy/delight/guilt."
Synonyms
Examples of paroxysm in a Sentence
He went into paroxysms of laughter. a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
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.
The prologue might end with a paroxysm of violence, but first there are a few timid whimpers of nascent pleasure; Bill Skarsgård’s base and primal Count Orlok is a nightmare who arrives on the wings of a nocturnal emission. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024 These symptoms include: Runny or stuffed up nose Low-grade fever (less than 100.4℉) Mild, occasional cough One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024 Many of the young men peeling away from the Democrats came of age during in the social paroxysms of recent years: #MeToo, DEI, online cancellations—cultural changes that some men interpreted as hostile to them. —Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024 For Fu, a 24-year-old graduate student in Beijing, this month’s paroxysms don’t change much on the ground. —Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paroxysm 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English paroxism, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein to stimulate, from para- + oxynein to provoke, from oxys sharp — more at oxygen
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of paroxysm was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near paroxysm
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paroxysm. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 19 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
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