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Berserk vs Hysterical - What's the difference?

berserk | hysterical |

As adjectives the difference between berserk and hysterical

is that berserk is injuriously, maniacally, or furiously violent or out of control while hysterical is of, or arising from hysteria.

As a noun berserk

is a crazed norse warrior who fought in a frenzy.

berserk

English

Alternative forms

* beserk * berzerk * beresque – humorous misspelling now accepted (Australian )

Noun

(en noun)
  • A crazed Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Injuriously, maniacally, or furiously violent or out of control.
  • * After he watched his sister stabbed to death, he went berserk and attacked the killer like a beast or a wild animal.
  • Derived terms

    * berserker

    See also

    *

    hysterical

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, or arising from hysteria.
  • Having, or prone to having hysterics.
  • Provoking uncontrollable laughter.
  • *, title=The Mirror and the Lamp
  • , chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}

    Usage notes

    *