Definition of frantic
1a archaic : mentally derangedb : 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
From the M-W Editors
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 of frantic from the Web
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Despite the frantic political activity in Westminster—the briefing, back-stabbing and plotting—the country has made remarkably little progress since the referendum in deciding what form Brexit should take.
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Here are the guests at the Red Wedding, signing up to attend an event at which they will be shot with crossbows and stabbed a hundred times and crushed under the hoofs of frantic horses.
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Birds, it’s been reported, become frantic in advance of the encroaching darkness and then, eerily, turn quiet.
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Harford County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 900 block of Top View Drive in Edgewood on Dec. 29, 2015 around 10 p.m, within minutes of a frantic 911 call by the victim's sister.
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As she’s bombarded with kids’ frantic questions, Bennett is Yoda, calmly dispensing knowledge.
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Three other people were hurt in a frantic rush to the exits.
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The frantic banging on his door came a few hours later.
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As the storm bore down on Mobile Bay, distress calls came in from all along the coast: from sailors in the water, people stranded on sandbars, frantic witnesses on land.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frantic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of frantic
Middle English frenetik, frantik — more at frenetic
FRANTIC Defined for English Language Learners
frantic
playDefinition of frantic for English Language Learners
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: feeling or showing a lot of fear and worry
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: having a lot of wild and hurried activity
FRANTIC Defined for Kids
frantic
playDefinition of frantic for Students
1 : feeling or showing fear and worry a frantic search
2 : having wild and hurried activity They made a frantic attempt to finish.
frantically
\-ti-kə-lē\ adverbLearn More about frantic
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See words that rhyme with frantic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for frantic Spanish Central: Translation of frantic Nglish: Translation of frantic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of frantic for Arabic speakers
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