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Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example. Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
Examples of hectic in a Sentence
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
While air travel can feel increasingly hectic, train travel continues to appeal as an easier, less expensive way to move between major East Coast cities—in fact, the Amtrak Northeast Regional is the train company’s most popular route in the country, carrying over 12 million passengers every year.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Most declined to speak, with some saying they’d been instructed to stay quieter than usual during the unusually hectic shift.
—Antonio Ferme, Variety, 11 June 2026
Not only was the Plaza33 party called off in coordination with the Secret Service, but a secure area was established around the ten-block radius surrounding the arena, cutting off foot and car traffic in one of the most hectic stretches of midtown Manhattan.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hectic
Cite this Entry
“Hectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hectic. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
