1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
we were delirious with anxiety when the boy failed to return home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
rushing about in a delirious state during the holidays
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of delirious
By the game’s end, when Brentwood came back from an 11-point deficit to defeat rival Crossroads 70-60, the 6-foot-7 Hill was using all of his final energy to dance with the delirious student section that got loud and boisterous and helped inspire the Eagles’ rally.
—
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
He is denied both the company of the living and the serenity of death, a lost, delirious soul who fails to anchor himself anywhere.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
These are the 2025 Bears, carrying their magic act into 2026 and starting their playoff story like this, with this kind of wild rally in front of a delirious and deserving home crowd.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Some of these skew toward the quirkier side, and a couple are blatant reaches (January wish lists are where our most delirious aspirations belong, after all).
—Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delirious
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
He is denied both the company of the living and the serenity of death, a lost, delirious soul who fails to anchor himself anywhere.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
These are the 2025 Bears, carrying their magic act into 2026 and starting their playoff story like this, with this kind of wild rally in front of a delirious and deserving home crowd.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Some of these skew toward the quirkier side, and a couple are blatant reaches (January wish lists are where our most delirious aspirations belong, after all).
—Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delirious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delirious
Adjective
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According to court documents, Shadbar became agitated and threatened to kill the family, using a racist slur in his threats, presumably directed at Robertson’s sons who are Black.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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To their credit, some gun-rights supporters did get agitated over this kerfuffle.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Maya is frantic, given that this is her boss’ car.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
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Despite first gaining notoriety as a frantic comedy YouTuber, the singer has spent most of the last decade as a purveyor of somber alt-R&B.—
Mehan Jayasuriya,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Three days later, her distraught children pleaded for the 84-year-old’s safe return, confirming that law enforcement believe Nancy was abducted against her will and could be alive.—
Dan Reilly,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
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But the show’s standout is Sophia Lillis, whose distraught, morally inflamed Riley is the play’s most original figure.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Right next to that is a showcase for Rubin’s frenetic playing in the form of a furious pattern over slashing guitars.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
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Two other high-ranking music executives from outside the company, who also spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity to maintain relationships there, said talent and agents at Wasserman Music are furious, and planning exits if Wasserman stays much longer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Capital expenditures, which are closely watched by investors who are worried about overspending, are expected to range between $175 billion to $185 billion in 2026.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
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But Willie Brown, the former mayor and speaker was not worried that Newsom would overly burnish his own story in his book.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Pederson is something of a mad scientist with bats.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s beloved novel has been driving people mad since the project was first announced.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While protesters may be frightened and grieving after last month's bloodbath, they're not mollified.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Many Olympians—Nordic skiers, for instance—pay a lot of attention to a measure called their VO2 max—the highest volume of oxygen your body can consume and use during a minute of intense exercise.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
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Valentine’s Day in a first teen relationship should feel simple, sweet, and age-appropriate, not intense or pressured.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delirious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delirious. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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