frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik How to pronounce frantic (audio)
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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a frantic 911 call that night, Lyle reported that someone had killed his parents. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024 Zala’s frantic search for her son becomes the gateway to a sprawling account of a community in crisis and a Black family confronted with an indifferent police force and hostile national media. Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 The frantic scene after an aluminum gangway collapsed Saturday at a boat dock on a Georgia barrier island capped what was supposed to have been a day of celebration, an annual festival spotlighting the culture and history of Sapelo Island's tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants. CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024 The frantic scene after an aluminum gangway collapsed Saturday at a boat dock on a Georgia barrier island capped what was supposed to have been a day of celebration, an annual festival spotlighting the culture and history of Sapelo Island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frantic 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of frantic was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near frantic

Cite this Entry

“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

frantic

adjective
fran·​tic ˈfrant-ik How to pronounce frantic (audio)
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 adverb
franticly
-i-klē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on frantic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!