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
On the one hand, there’s something frantic at best and craven at worst about the year end round-up, which always misses something.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
In a combative speech delivered as US and European leaders engage in frantic diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement, Putin lashed out at Ukraine’s European allies and said Russia would take territory by force if necessary.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The rest of the episode (once again directed by Lorene Scafaria) unfolds at a frantic clip, especially as Maia bulldozes her way through an overcrowded hospital.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
In the mix is a young girl with psychokinetic powers who has escaped from a secret research lab, an alcoholic police chief who is trying to find the missing boy and a frantic mother.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
In a combative speech delivered as US and European leaders engage in frantic diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement, Putin lashed out at Ukraine’s European allies and said Russia would take territory by force if necessary.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The rest of the episode (once again directed by Lorene Scafaria) unfolds at a frantic clip, especially as Maia bulldozes her way through an overcrowded hospital.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
In the mix is a young girl with psychokinetic powers who has escaped from a secret research lab, an alcoholic police chief who is trying to find the missing boy and a frantic mother.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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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