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

But maybe the final shot, the frantic one that assaulted the backboard, shouldn’t have counted. —Fred Katz, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

His frantic search for a replacement ate up 10 minutes of the psychedelic post-punk band’s 30-minute slot. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Petito disappeared two weeks later, and her family launched a frantic search for her. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Her Hollywood dream cut short by an ecological nightmare, Torres barely had enough time to toss her Golden Globe into her purse in her frantic escape from the apocalyptic inferno. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for frantic

• antic
• atlantic
• gigantic
• pedantic
• romantic
• semantic
• vedantic
• transatlantic
• unromantic

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