frantically

adverb

fran·​ti·​cal·​ly ˈfran-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce frantically (audio)
Synonyms of franticallynext
: 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

Examples of frantically in a Sentence

the veterinarian ran frantically from room to room looking for the escaped hamster
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In audio of the 911 call obtained by NBC News, Caleb Flynn could be heard frantically telling a dispatcher that someone broke into his home and shot his wife. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026 Players slide 40-pound stones toward a target while their teammates sweep frantically to control its speed and direction, and Gross does the same with a cast that gives it all. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026 In the 911 call that was later released, Flynn is heard frantically telling a dispatcher that someone had broken into their Tipp City home, located an estimated 16 miles north of Dayton, and shot his wife, saying there was blood everywhere and that she had been shot in the head. Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026 There are no Roomba-like machines flanking the stone, frantically brushing to extend its travel or hold its line. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frantically

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frantically was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frantically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantically. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster