1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of paroxysm
Even the Wimbledon crowd went into paroxysms for Andy Murray — after the points were over.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Before becoming vice president, Senator JD Vance’s introduction of a bill to raise the tax on large endowments from 1.4% to 35% for universities with endowments larger than $10 billion sent the right-side of social media world into paroxysms of ecstasy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 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
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Before becoming vice president, Senator JD Vance’s introduction of a bill to raise the tax on large endowments from 1.4% to 35% for universities with endowments larger than $10 billion sent the right-side of social media world into paroxysms of ecstasy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 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
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In a news conference Friday, a spokesperson for the Pest County Police Headquarters said an explosion in one of the rooms likely caused the fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Some parents told the Tribune that pandemic-era growth seems to have set off a snowball effect, fueled by an explosion of online and at-home learning resources.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And then there’s D’Amaro, who will need to chart a course for the most powerful of all traditional entertainment companies amid that tech upheaval.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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Wilson isn’t alone in shutting out the noise of the industry’s upheaval.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For his courtroom outbursts, Davis found Thompson in contempt of court and added a little more than four and a half years to his sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
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Chicago answered, with Collin Sexton matching the 12-point outburst and getting enough help from Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey to grab a slim 31-27 edge.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But as unrest over immigration enforcement ramps up, Arizona activists face both opportunities and challenges.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Last November, a court in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for her role in the unrest, in which the UN human rights office estimates around 1,400 people were killed.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There has been some speculation that Lagrange’s future could be as a reliever, which would let his electric arsenal play up in bursts.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Consistency triumphs over bursts of brilliance.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tech revolutions at heart change the mechanisms by which humans live.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
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Even his father Roman Skornikov — an Olympian for Uzbekistan who coaches his son with his wife, Tatiana Malinina — thought the idea of doing four-and-a-half revolutions in one jump was crazy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Naughty or Nice During a volcanic eruption, a scorching, chaotic river of lava flows over the ground.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Feb. 2026
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Already teased throughout today’s broadcast, the arrival of the 232 athletes of Team USA initially saw an eruption of applause in San Siro.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, White speculates that the Hong Kong funds also got pummeled by headwinds in the Yen-carry trade—which made their financing more expensive—and exposure to recent convulsions in the silver market.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Some permanent changes among survivors have been noted, including persistent convulsions.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paroxysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paroxysm. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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