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
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
As your host, Lizzie Burder makes for very enjoyable company, deftly mixing child-like enthusiasm with just enough frantic dread to convince you that this whole operation could turn dangerous at any moment.
—
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
South responded to begin the third, outscoring Andover by six to take the lead and set up the frantic fourth quarter.
—Matt Roy, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
As the driver took off, the frantic mother carried her son back inside the hospital, where teams of doctors performed chest compressions and other rescue efforts, but failed to save him.
—Dave Carlin, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
As Saturday night spilled into Sunday morning, the sidewalks and crowded patios of lively Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, were cloaked in terror and fear as the clinking of glasses and music gave way to frantic calls for help after a gunman opened fire.
—Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
South responded to begin the third, outscoring Andover by six to take the lead and set up the frantic fourth quarter.
—Matt Roy, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
As the driver took off, the frantic mother carried her son back inside the hospital, where teams of doctors performed chest compressions and other rescue efforts, but failed to save him.
—Dave Carlin, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
As Saturday night spilled into Sunday morning, the sidewalks and crowded patios of lively Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, were cloaked in terror and fear as the clinking of glasses and music gave way to frantic calls for help after a gunman opened fire.
—Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
franticly
adverb
-i-klē
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