feverish

adjective

fe·​ver·​ish ˈfē-vrish 

ˈfe-vər-ish

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 Pfizer lease marks an anomaly in a local life science real estate market that has cooled significantly since the early stages of the pandemic when there was a feverish demand for lab space. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024

Director Ryuhei Kitamura invites nearly every character, trope, theme, and, most importantly, monster from Godzilla’s first half-century into this feverish explosion of early aughts action. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024

Due to the feverish name-calling and belittling writing, the letter was difficult to read. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2024

With the city in a feverish state, Surya’s characters are involved in political resistance and a tug of love. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024

After winning Super Bowl LVIII, not to mention attracting feverish interest in his romantic relationship with Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce is setting his sights on Hollywood. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024

Sam was clutching his bedsheet, looking confused and feverish. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

By the 1970s, a spectrum of skilled musicians had formed bands, driving a feverish scene across the Copperbelt, such as the Black Souls, Peace and Fire Balls, Kingston Market, The Boyfriends, and Upshoots. —Tracy Kawalik, SPIN, 5 Mar. 2024

Does the film hold up to those feverish ‘90s memories? —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Mar. 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