conniption means A fit of anger or panic; conniption fit. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 89 out of 100.
conniption is pronounced /kəˈnɪp.ʃən/.
Why “conniption” is a great word
CONNIPTION — [Noun] A fit of extreme, often involuntary, emotional agitation such as anger, panic, or hysterical laughter. Origin uncertain; first attested in American English around 1833, possibly a fanciful alteration of 'corruption' or related to 'captious'. Unlike a 'tantrum', which implies a childish, willful display, or a mere 'outburst', which can be any surge of feeling, a conniption is a total paroxysm of the nerves. It is the teacup hurled in sputtering vexation, the gasping laughter that hijacks a funeral, the paralyzing dread in a sunlit aisle—a brief, glorious surrender to the body's electric chaos.
Etymology
Since 1833, from American English. Unknown origin, probably a fanciful alteration of corruption etc., or maybe related to captious.
noun
- A fit of anger or panic; conniption fit.“When she came downstairs and saw what her children were eating, she had a conniption.”
- A fit of laughing; convulsion.“The joke was not that funny, but he went into conniptions laughing.”