noun
conniption
kuh-NIP-shun/kəˈnɪpʃn/
A sudden fit of intense anger or agitation.
The woman has a conniption when spilled tea ruins her nearly finished puzzle.
Etymology
The word is recorded in “conniption fit,” meaning an attack of hysteria. Its origin is uncertain: suggested links include “corruption” in an older sense of anger and dialectal “canapshus,” meaning ill-tempered.
In context
The trail up from the road nearly gave him a conniption. Well, it _was_ a devilish road to put a car on.
More examples
- She had a conniption when she saw the repair bill.
- The missing tickets sent him into conniptions.
- Don't have a conniption; we can still fix the mistake.
Forms
conniption · conniptions
Similar words
- tantrum
- Usually suggests childish anger expressed through shouting or crying.
- outburst
- Emphasizes a sudden expression of emotion, not necessarily anger.