paroxysm

paroxysm
noun
par·;ox·;ysm ;per-;k-;si-z;m  ;pa-r;k-, also p;-;r;k-
Synonyms of paroxysm
1
: a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion
a paroxysm of coughing
convulsed … in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure
—Thomas Hardy
2
: a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst
a paroxysm of rage
a paroxysm of laughter
paroxysmal
;per-;k-;siz-m;l
;pa-r;k-
 also
p;-;r;k-
 adjective


Did you know?
Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately erupted from the Greek verb paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." (Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp.") In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm referred to a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease—such as pain, coughing, shaking, etc.—that often occur again and again. This sense is still in use, but paroxysm soon took on a broader and now much more common sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one, as in "paroxysms of rage/laughter/joy/delight/guilt."

Synonyms
agony
blaze
burst
ebullition
eruption
explosion
fit
flare
flare-up
flash
flush
gale
gush
gust
outburst
spasm
storm
Examples of paroxysm in a Sentence
He went into paroxysms of laughter.
a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many of the young men peeling away from the Democrats came of age during in the social paroxysms of recent years: #MeToo, DEI, online cancellations—cultural changes that some men interpreted as hostile to them.
—Charlotte Alter, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
For Fu, a 24-year-old graduate student in Beijing, this month’s paroxysms don’t change much on the ground.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
These symptoms include: Runny or stuffed up nose Low-grade fever (less than 100.4;) Mild, occasional cough One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, that usually last one to six weeks but can last up to 10 weeks.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
This confession sends O’Brien into paroxysms of rage, and ends with a surreal conclusion that is pretty, pretty good.
—Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History
Etymology
Middle English paroxism, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein to stimulate, from para- + oxynein to provoke, from oxys sharp — more at oxygen

First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paroxysm was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century
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