Meaning & use
hysteria
Exaggerated, uncontrollable emotion or excitement, often spreading quickly through a group of people.
See it in a sentence
Media coverage of the shortage triggered hysteria, and shelves emptied within hours.
The crowd's hysteria grew as rumors about the missing child spread unchecked.
A note on using this word
Hysteria was once used as an outdated medical diagnosis; today it mainly describes collective panic or overreaction.
Words with a similar meaning
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