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
• distraught
• hysteric
• worried
• frightened

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

The frantic search for the 34-year-old woman began in April and ended with the discovery of her remains in a narrow space between two buildings in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb of her home city of Denver, on Friday, June 6. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Alongside the frantic rush for textbooks, new stationery, and the last days of summer freedom, students are now having to get to grips with new artificial intelligence tools. —Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

As shots rang out, frantic employees called 911 and barricaded themselves in offices and conference rooms. —John Miller, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2025

The summer soundtrack of our backyard is dominated by the awful, frantic scratching of squirrel claws against fence boards as the wily rodents scramble their way into my fig tree and onto my naughty list. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 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