1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
Darwin's introduction of the theory of evolution created paroxysms in both religion and science that are still being felt today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paroxysm
Also, stars in this frenzied state aren’t terribly stable; the fusion rate can be tempestuous, and the star undergoes incredibly violent paroxysms.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
The post is now nearing a hundred million views and inspiring paroxysms of millennial self-reckoning.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Wilson’s idealistic vision of a new U.S. role in the world collapsed in a paroxysm of partisanship.
—Charles A. Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The 55-year-old electrical engineer at the center of this postal paroxysm was an improbable target.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2014
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
The post is now nearing a hundred million views and inspiring paroxysms of millennial self-reckoning.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Wilson’s idealistic vision of a new U.S. role in the world collapsed in a paroxysm of partisanship.
—Charles A. Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
The 55-year-old electrical engineer at the center of this postal paroxysm was an improbable target.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2014
See All Example Sentences for paroxysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paroxysm
Noun
-
Rubin, with the exquisite detail of its images, is well placed to find these types of events, in which stars disappear in explosions that can be too faint for other surveys to see.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2026
-
In New York City, the explosion of rideshare pickups and last-mile delivery overwhelmed curbside infrastructure built for a different era.—
Chase Garbarino,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
With several high-profile players likely to leave and Beye not expected to remain in his post, another summer of upheaval awaits at Marseille.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
As a result, global markets are experiencing upheaval and crude oil prices have remained above $100 a barrel.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There was the occasional outburst as angry drivers leaned heavily on their horns, filling the peaceful meadow with a sudden blast of urban agita, but in general, things remained calm.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pop Up Film Residency Wildcard is designed to support exceptional film talents from countries in a state of political unrest.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
And these are now increasingly fragile as a result of global unrest, climate change and a host of imitators.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
All over the dress, shimmering sequins created bursts of firework-like patterning, with varied tones of metallic silver.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
The Tempo went on a 10-0 burst heading into the second quarter but the Sparks countered to maintain momentum and led 46-38 at halftime.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
And mistaking one for the other is another legacy of how the Cold War foreshortened the humanistic possibilities of the intellectual revolution of the past eighty years—a revolution that has, miraculously, allowed people to communicate with machines using human languages.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Founding Fathers will go from the stirrings of revolution to the long and bloody fight for independence, and on into the early years of the American republic.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
As previously reported, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius released thermal energy roughly equivalent to 100,000 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, spewing molten rock, pumice, and hot ash over the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in particular.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
-
Its origin—Crater Lake formed following a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago—only adds to the allure.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Listeriosis can cause symptoms of fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
