Definition

1. Noun:
   • A neurotic disorder: A psychological condition historically characterized by emotional excess, physical symptoms without organic cause, and disturbances in sensory or motor functions.
   • Excessive or uncontrollable emotion: A state of extreme excitement, fear, or anger among a group of people, often considered irrational or overwhelming.
   • A state of violent mental agitation: An individual condition of frenzied excitement or panic.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The news of the disaster caused mass hysteria in the coastal town.
  • In the 19th century, some symptoms were diagnosed as female hysteria.
  • The crowd's hysteria made it difficult for the police to control the situation.

Advanced Usage

• "Mass hysteria": A phenomenon involving the rapid spread of illusions, fears, or behaviors through a group.
  • The strange illness was later attributed to an episode of mass hysteria.
• "Wartime hysteria": Refers to the intense, often irrational, fear and patriotic fervor that can arise during a war.
  • The internment policy was born out of wartime hysteria.

Variants and Related Words

• Hysterical (adj): 1. Relating to or affected by hysteria. 2. Extremely funny.
  • She was in a hysterical state after the accident.
  • The comedian's joke was absolutely hysterical.
• Hysterics (n, plural): 1. A fit of uncontrollable laughter or crying. 2. (Informal) Overly dramatic behavior.
  • She went into hysterics when she heard the news.
  • He's just having hysterics; ignore him.

Synonyms

• Frenzy: A state of wild excitement or uncontrolled activity.
• Panic: Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety.
• Mania: Excessive enthusiasm or desire; a mental illness marked by periods of great excitement.

Related Phrases

• To whip up hysteria: To deliberately stir up extreme public excitement or fear.
  • The tabloids whipped up hysteria about the virus.
• Bordering on hysteria: Behaving in a way that is almost hysterical.
  • Her reaction to the spider was bordering on hysteria.

Noun

1. neurotic disorder characterized by violent emotional outbreaks and disturbances of sensory and motor functions
2. excessive or uncontrollable fear
3. state of violent mental agitation