frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik 

1

: emotionally out of control

2

: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity

made a frantic search for the lost child

frantic cries for help

3

archaic : mentally unsound

franticness

ˈfran-tik-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• agitated
• delirious
• distracted
• distrait
• distraught
• frenzied
• hysterical
• hysteric

Examples of frantic in a Sentence

The girl was frantic with fear.

They made a frantic search for the missing child.

They were making frantic preparations for the party.

a frantic attempt to finish on schedule

Recent Examples on the Web

This year's garment celebrates the hectic holiday season with a frantic, detachable cheeseburger. —Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 13 Dec. 2024

The big win of the night was for Sandro Botticelli’s 15th-century painting The Virgin and Child Enthroned, which sold after a frantic ten-minute bidding war between nine parties. —George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Tevin Mwangi told News 12 New Jersey of seeing the frantic teen. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Her frantic partner is on the phone, begging a doctor to tell him what to do. —Christen Hammock Jones / Made By History, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantike "temporarily deranged, delirious" — more at frenetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfrant-ik 

1

: wildly excited

frantic cries for help

was frantic with fear

2

: marked by wild and hurried activity

a frantic search for the missing child

frantically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

franticly

-i-klē

adverb