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
• radical
• revolutionary
• fanatical

Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters

Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.

Recent Examples on the Web

But don’t count Odenkirk, who was about the age of most of Dahl’s rabid young fans at the time. —William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025

The modes feature enough depth to sate the most rabid football fan. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025

In the past year, the department confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 24 July 2025

Anyone exposed to a suspect rabid animal should thoroughly wash wounds and immediately contact a doctor and follow their instructions, or seek emergency medical treatment, according to DEEP. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 July 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