Meaning & use
caniption
Last updated
Meaning
nounusually pluralinformalAmericanregional
A sudden, loud burst of anger, panic or hysteria, often rather exaggerated.
Grammar: Often plural, conniptions, but you can also say 'a caniption fit' or 'have a caniption'.
Patterns
- have a caniption
- throw a caniption fit
My mother nearly had a caniption when she saw the broken window.
He threw a caniption fit over the parking ticket.
Don't have a caniption, it's only a scratch on the car.
Word forms
| plural | caniptions |
|---|
Common combinations
- have a caniption
- Dad will have a caniption if we are late again.
- throw a caniption fit
- The toddler threw a caniption fit in the aisle.
- caniption fit
- She went into a caniption fit when she saw the bill.
- nearly have a caniption
- I nearly had a caniption when the screen went black.
- in a caniption
- He was in a caniption over the missing keys.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conniption
- Conniption is the standard spelling of the same word and the better choice in careful writing.
- tantrum
- A tantrum is usually a childish outburst, while a caniption can describe an adult's dramatic overreaction.
- hissy fit
- Hissy fit is even more humorous and also suggests a petty or spoiled show of anger.
- meltdown
- A meltdown suggests a complete emotional collapse, often from stress, not just anger.
Opposites
Word family
- conniption noun
- the standard spelling
- caniptions noun
- plural form
- fit noun
- a sudden strong outburst of feeling
Commonly confused: caniption or contraption? caniption or conniption?
caniption vs contraption
A contraption is a strange-looking machine or gadget, and has nothing to do with angry outbursts, although the words sound a little alike.
caniption vs conniption
Conniption is the more widely accepted spelling of this word.
Practice
When she saw the huge phone bill, my aunt nearly had a caniption. What was her reaction?
Choose one answer.
A caniption is an exaggerated burst of anger or panic. The last two options describe calm reactions, which the word rules out.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “caniption”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.