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 victim’s husband, who works as an Uber driver to support his family, called Azizov about two hours after the crash, frantic to find his wife.
—
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
During a tense trip to the bank, Connie risks everything to secretly alert authorities, setting off a frantic search.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
The former New York Jets first-round draft pick allegedly sent frantic messages to the chatbot shortly before Perpétuo was found dead on the floor of a home, covered in blood and littered with bottles of alcohol.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, after some dominant play by the Blackhawks, he was tested late — making a terrific frantic kick save of a Barrett Hayton shot that was slowed and redirected by Burakovsky’s stick.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
During a tense trip to the bank, Connie risks everything to secretly alert authorities, setting off a frantic search.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
The former New York Jets first-round draft pick allegedly sent frantic messages to the chatbot shortly before Perpétuo was found dead on the floor of a home, covered in blood and littered with bottles of alcohol.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, after some dominant play by the Blackhawks, he was tested late — making a terrific frantic kick save of a Barrett Hayton shot that was slowed and redirected by Burakovsky’s stick.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 10 Mar. 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 20 Mar. 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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