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Meaning & use

delirious

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/dɪˈlɪriəs/
US/dɪˈlɪriəs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparablemedical

    Confused and unable to think or speak clearly, usually because of a high fever or serious illness.

    Grammar: Often follows a linking verb: he was delirious with fever.

    Patterns

    • delirious with fever
    • become delirious

    The patient became delirious during the night and did not recognize his daughter.

    She was delirious with fever and kept talking to people who were not there.

    After two days without water, the hikers grew delirious.

  2. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Extremely happy or excited, almost out of control.

    Grammar: Often followed by with joy or happiness.

    Patterns

    • delirious with joy
    • delirious about something

    The fans were delirious with joy when the team scored.

    I was delirious with happiness after hearing the news.

    The children were delirious on the last day of school.

Word forms

comparativemore delirious
superlativemost delirious

Common combinations

delirious with joy
The crowd was delirious with joy.
delirious with fever
The boy lay delirious with fever.
become delirious
He became delirious after the long hours in the desert.
delirious laughter
Delirious laughter filled the room after the big win.
half delirious
She was half delirious from exhaustion.

Synonyms and how they differ

ecstatic
Ecstatic means extremely happy, while delirious can add the idea of being almost out of control or not thinking straight.
raving
Raving describes wild, incoherent talk, often from illness, and is more informal than delirious.
feverish
Feverish stresses the body's heat or a restless excitement, while delirious focuses on confusion of mind.
incoherent
Incoherent only means not making sense, without implying illness or joy.

Opposites

lucidsobercalm

Word family

delirium noun
a confused state of mind, often from illness
deliriously adverb
in a wildly excited or confused way
deliriousness noun
the state of being delirious

Commonly confused: delirious or deleterious?

delirious vs deleterious

Deleterious means harmful and has nothing to do with confusion or joy, despite the similar beginning.

Practice

The marathon runner was so tired that she became ___ and could not remember her own name.

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