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
But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026
The criteria include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, having unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, emotional instability, paranoia or dissociation under stress, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 11 June 2026
The jurors also watched chilling body camera footage showing the frantic efforts to transport 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez to a rescue helicopter following a fatal 2022 boat crash.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The girl’s disappearance sparked a frantic and widespread 24-hour search.
—Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026
The criteria include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, having unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, emotional instability, paranoia or dissociation under stress, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 11 June 2026
The jurors also watched chilling body camera footage showing the frantic efforts to transport 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez to a rescue helicopter following a fatal 2022 boat crash.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The girl’s disappearance sparked a frantic and widespread 24-hour search.
—Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 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 17 Jun. 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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