Written for RDP, where sgeoil asks us
to get creative with the word “hysterical”.
Thanks, Heather! Here’s my response.
“Hysterical” is a very funny word …. no pun intended.
One of my pedantic friends corrected me one day when I used the word “hysterical” in reference to a movie I thought was very funny. My friend said the correct word was “hilarious”; he went on to explain there was no misunderstanding the meaning of “hilarious” as being “extremely funny”, whereas “hysterical” could and does mean “emotional”, “in a frenzy”, “overwrought”, “in a panic”, and …. my personal favorite …. “out of control!” in addition to meaning “comedic”, “amusing”, “very funny”, “side splitting” or “uproarious” …. in other words, “hilarious”.
To make sure I understood the difference between the two words, my friend gave me an example by using both words in a sentence. For instance, it’s perfectly appropriate to say, ”the woman was ‘hysterical’ after the shooting” as opposed to “the woman was ‘hilarious’ after the shooting”. I really didn’t need the clarification.
Now, whenever my friend is around, I feel “insecure”, “suspicious”, ”paranoid”,”anxious”, and/or“completely irrational” every time I have to choose between “hysterical” or “hilarious”.
Choose your words wisely, my friends; you never know when someone may actually be listening.
NAR©2026
This is “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
😅 say what you see that’s what I say – so hilarious it is 🙌
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Well, I for one love to laugh hysterically!
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Me too and my family has seen it so often, they just say “There she goes!”
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I think your friend belongs to the language police….I’ve known a few in my time. They do leaving you feeling very self conscious in their presence.
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He’s a jackass! 🙄
This was a fun prompt, Heather. Thanks!
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With friends like this…🙄
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Please, he’s a royal PITA! 😂
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Something that is hysterical can also be hilarious, as in the case where something is so funny it induces a state of near-hysteria.
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It’s true. I’ve been there and my family will attest to that!
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Tell your friend you know the Victorian cure for hysteria, and then just go bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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😂 🤣
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Haha! He is right but I wouldn’t advise correcting people like this.
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And I agree …. on both counts! Thanks, Sadje.
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