# hysterical

> English word · Adjective · IPA /hɪˈstɛɹɪkəl/ · frequency rank #15,427

## Definitions
1. Of, or arising from hysteria.
2. Having, or prone to having hysterics.
3. Provoking uncontrollable laughter.

## Etymology
From hysteric + -al, from Latin hystericus, from Ancient Greek ὑστερικός (husterikós, “suffering in the womb, hysterical”), from ῠ̔στέρᾱ (hŭstérā, “womb”).

## Easily confused with
- **hysterics** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hysterical-vs-hysterics)
- **hysterically** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hysterical-vs-hysterically)
- **hysteria** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hysteria-vs-hysterical)
- **historical** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/historical-vs-hysterical)

## Common misspellings (16)
`hhysterical`, `hsyterical`, `hysetrical`, `hyssterical`, `hysteircal`, `hystercial`, `hysteriacl`, `hystericall`, `hystericcal`, `hystericla`, `hysterrical`, `hystreical`, `hystterical`, `hytserical`, `hyysterical`, `yhsterical`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hysterical