frenzy

1 of 2

noun

fren·​zy ˈfren-zē 

plural frenzies

1

a

: a temporary madness

in a rage amounting to a frenzy

b

: a violent mental or emotional agitation

… almost weeping in a frenzy of anxiety …

—Colleen McCullough

2

: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity

a shopping frenzy

… the mob chanted itself into a frenzy …

—C. Carr

frenzy

2 of 2

verb

frenzied; frenzying

transitive verb

: to affect with frenzy

Synonyms of frenzy

Noun

• rampage
• rage
• fury
• hysteria

Verb

• craze
• bother
• distract
• disturb
• upset
• unbalance
• confuse
• derange

Examples of frenzy in a Sentence

Noun

the buying frenzy just before Christmas

in its frenzy to flee the danger, the crowd became uncontrollable, and a number of people were trampled to death

Verb

local football fans who were frenzied by the fact that their team was going to the Super Bowl

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

All types of law enforcement and security were present on the streets of New York City on Thursday, as the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals victory parade sent the Big Apple into a frenzy of celebration. —Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Each goal Messi scored sent the majority-Argentina crowd into a frenzy. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026

The frenzy for sports merch is at its all-time peak. —Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

The strike had the narrowest room for error, and Nakamura wrapped it around and through the pesky Dutch backline for the first Japanese goal to send their supporters’ section into a frenzy. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English frenesie, franesie, frensy, fransy "insanity, delirium, fit of madness," borrowed from Anglo-French frenesie, frensye, borrowed from Medieval Latin phrenēsia, re-formation of Late Latin phrenēsis "inflammation of the brain, madness," derivative (by analogy with other Greek nouns in -ēsis with corresponding adjectives in -ētikos) of Latin phrenēticus "suffering from madness" — more at frenetic

Verb

derivative of frenzy entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1791, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing frenzy

• feeding frenzy

Kids Definition

frenzy

noun

fren·​zy

ˈfren-zē

plural frenzies

: great and often wild or disorderly activity

Medical Definition

frenzy

noun

fren·​zy ˈfren-zē 

plural frenzies

1

a

: a temporary madness

b

: a violent mental or emotional agitation

2

: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity

frenzied

-zēd 

adjective