frantically

adverb

fran·​ti·​cal·​ly ˈfran-ti-k(ə-)lē 

: in a frantic manner : in a nervously hurried, desperate, or panic-stricken way

searching frantically for the key fob

[Carlton] Fisk stood several feet down the line, frantically urging the ball fair with his hands. It hit the yellow foul pole above the wall, a home run.

—Ron Fimrite

Wine companies, fearing that younger drinkers are slipping out of their grasp, have been frantically trying to create products that will be viewed as edgy, hip and fun.

—Mitch Frank

During the new moon, a hatch of baby sea turtles erupts from the sand, struggling frantically to get to the ocean.

—Bernice Notenboom

Synonyms of frantically

• wildly
• desperately
• wild
• uncontrollably
• frenziedly

Examples of frantically in a Sentence

the veterinarian ran frantically from room to room looking for the escaped hamster

Recent Examples on the Web

Avoid splashing frantically in fear. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 30 May 2026

Let’s take advantage while the bots are frantically throwing trade tantrums! —Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Shooting outside a bar near TD Garden The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association is sounding off after a shooting outside a popular bar near TD Garden sent patrons frantically searching for cover. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026

At the Ugandan airport, Ruprecht frantically rebooked his flights. —Pien Huang, NPR, 23 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frantically

• romantically