hysteria
n. uncountablen. a state where a person or a group of people lose control of their emotions. It often involves extreme fear, excitement, or anger that spreads quickly.
n. an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality and shared by a group. Historically associated with a specific psychological diagnosis, though modern usage typically refers to collective panic or intense individual distress.
The news caused a wave of hysteria in the small town.
As the stock market crashed, a sense of collective hysteria took over the trading floor, leading to impulsive selling.
Sociologists often study moral hysteria to understand how minor social deviations can be perceived as existential threats to the stability of a community.
From New Latin hysteria, a back-formation from Latin hystericus, from Ancient Greek ὑστερικός (husterikós, “suffering in the uterus, hysterical”), from ὑστέρα (hustéra, “womb”). Compare French hystérie.
Often paired with the verbs 'cause', 'create', or 'induce'.