feverish

adjective

fe·​ver·​ish ˈfe-vər-ish 

ˈfē-vrish

1

a

: tending to cause fever

b

: having the symptoms of a fever

c

: indicating or relating to fever

2

: marked by intense emotion, activity, or instability

feverish excitement

feverishly adverb

feverishness noun

Synonyms

• agitated
• excited
• frenzied
• heated
• hectic
• hyperactive
• overactive
• overwrought

Examples of feverish in a Sentence

She was feeling tired and feverish.

He had a feverish appearance.

Recent Examples on the Web

The song arrived in May amid a feverish lyrical spar between two of hip-hop’s biggest titans — Lamar and Drake — and almost instantly grew from a searing dis track (with accusations of pedophilia) into a nationwide anthem promoting unity. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

Within the feverish climate of social media, this made for an unfamiliar sort of restraint — almost as unusual as the street homicide of an American businessman. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024

Our first day on the trail (and our second and third) was an exorcism of sorts, a feverish purge. —Steven Potter, Outside Online, 19 Nov. 2024

There is no feverish devotion to be found when The Athletic visits, only shoppers musing thoughtfully under fashionable downlighting. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

feverish

adjective

fe·​ver·​ish ˈfēv-(ə-)rish 

1

a

: having a fever

b

: of, relating to, or being fever

c

: tending to cause fever

2

: showing great emotion or activity : hectic

feverish excitement

feverishly adverb

feverishness noun

Medical Definition

feverish

adjective

fe·​ver·​ish ˈfēv-(ə-)rish 

1

: showing symptoms indicating fever (as increased heat and thirst or delirium) : having a fever

the patient is feverish

specifically : abnormally hot

the child's forehead felt feverish

2

: of or indicating fever

a feverish condition

3

: infected with or tending to cause fever

a damp, feverish, unhealthy spot

—R. L. Stevenson