paroxysm

8 synonyms for paroxysm, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A sudden worsening of an illness, such as a fit of coughing or a seizure.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

fit

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

apex climax culmination

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

convulsion acme apogee zenith

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A sudden worsening of an illness, such as a fit of coughing or a seizure.

fit convulsion

2. noun

A sudden, strong burst of feeling or activity, or the most intense point of something.

“The Russian soldier left a trail of blood and devastated lives in a last paroxysm of violence only hours before Russian troops began withdrawing.”

apex climax acme apogee zenith culmination

Etymology

This word came into English from Late Middle English paroxism, paroxisme ("period of worsening of a disease, attack; sudden recurrent fever"), from Middle French paroxisme, paroxysme, and Old French peroxime ("period of worsening of a disease; bout of fever or illness") (modern French paroxysme), all going back to thei...

Full origin of paroxysm →

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fit climax apex culmination zenith apogee convulsion Acme

Nearby words

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