rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈra-bəd 

also

ˈrā- 

1

a

: extremely violent : furious

b

: going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion

rabid editorials

a rabid supporter

2

: affected with rabies

rabidity

rə-ˈbi-də-tē 

ra-

rā-

noun

rabidly

ˈra-bəd-lē 

 also  ˈrā-

adverb

rabidness noun

Synonyms

• extreme
• extremist
• fanatic
• fanatical
• radical
• revolutionary
• revolutionist
• ultra

Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters

Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.

Recent Examples on the Web

King’s 1981 book about a mother and son who get trapped in their car while protecting themselves from a rabid dog was first adapted for the screen in the 1983. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025

The independent releasing strategy tied to another of Roth’s points of horror, the rabid fanbase. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025

Some of the roar came out of the Corvette with the hybridization of the E-Ray, and starting with the C7, Corvettes come standard with automatic transmissions, a change that requires some getting used to from the vehicle’s rabid fan base. —Jackie Charniga, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025

The animal was sent to the N.C. Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh on Thursday, and tests results on Friday said the animal was rabid. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin rabidus mad, from rabere

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈrab-əd 

 also  ˈrā-bəd

1

: extremely violent : furious

2

: going to extreme lengths (as in interest or opinion)

rabid supporters

3

: affected with rabies

a rabid dog

rabidly adverb

Medical Definition

rabid

adjective

ra·​bid

ˈrab-əd also ˈrā-bəd

: affected with rabies

a rabid dog