frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik 

1

: emotionally out of control

especially : feeling or showing fear or anxiety

was frantic while waiting for news

frantic cries for help

a frantic search for the lost child

2

: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity

making frantic party preparations

3

archaic : mentally unsound

franticness

ˈfran-tik-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of frantic

• agitated
• distraught
• 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

Kurfürstendamm is just steps away, as is the Tiergarten, yet the neighborhood never feels frantic. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026

Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also scored as England raced to a 4-0 halftime lead before surviving a frantic second half to secure the nation’s best World Cup finish since winning the title in 1966. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026

In the middle of the night, Jackie gets a frantic phone call from her younger sister Madi, who is calling from the home of Jackie’s former boss, Erick Mortenson. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

But, within a minute of frantic play, Enzo Fernández, Argentina’s most zealous midfielder, went flying into Pau Cubarsí, a young Spain defender. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

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