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 frantic calls to her husband’s doctor’s office resulted in an appointment 10 days later. —Sara Belcher, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

The trailer opens with a frantic DiCaprio grabbing a payphone to call into the rebellion using secret codes. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025

Matt’s Sisyphean struggle to make something worthwhile in a world that rewards disposable trash is embodied in each frantic fire drill, which only resolves to start all over again the next week. —Alison Herman, Variety, 25 Mar. 2025

These points, Zimmerman said, indicate a healthier and less frantic market than from 2020 to 2022. —Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 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