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
The resulting scene is spectacular, with the apartment’s inclined and polished floor giving rise to physical comedy of absurdist pathos in the vein of Jerry Lewis, and Corvette’s frantic struggle for traction revealing the earnest undertones of her fraught visit.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
In the right hands, delivered with an attitude that respects both the subjects and gallery visitors, this frantic exploration of cowboys and the West by art galleries can still have something to say.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
The daytime killing set off a frantic manhunt across the Northeast.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 18 May 2026
Instead of approaching pre-season cleaning as a frantic clear-out, experts suggest embracing thoughtful edits, a natural flow, and season-less updates that make a home feel lighter, more timeless and deeply personal.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
In the right hands, delivered with an attitude that respects both the subjects and gallery visitors, this frantic exploration of cowboys and the West by art galleries can still have something to say.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
The daytime killing set off a frantic manhunt across the Northeast.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 18 May 2026
Instead of approaching pre-season cleaning as a frantic clear-out, experts suggest embracing thoughtful edits, a natural flow, and season-less updates that make a home feel lighter, more timeless and deeply personal.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 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 25 May. 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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