frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik 

1

: emotionally out of control

2

: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity

made a frantic search for the lost child

frantic cries for help

3

archaic : mentally unsound

franticness

ˈfran-tik-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• agitated
• delirious
• distracted
• distrait
• distraught
• frenzied
• hysterical
• hysteric

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 seven-minute ordeal began with a frantic 911 call early Wednesday morning. —Elise Preston, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2024

The throbbing beats bang up against the high-speed back-and-forth of the matches, pumping up the action — and the emotional stakes — with frantic rhythms rather than conventional sports-movie melodrama. —Alan Light, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024

Then in a frantic first half against Osasuna where head coach Carlo Ancelotti lost three players, one of them was Lucas Vazquez which has resulted in Fede Valverde recently filling in on the defensive line at right back. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Later, said track explodes into a pounding, frantic fantasy, the perfect soundtrack to an epic chase that culminates in a boss battle to the death. —Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantike "temporarily deranged, delirious" — more at frenetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids 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

frantically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

franticly

-i-klē

adverb