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
• distraught
• hysteric
• worried
• frightened

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

Hamilton, who’d spent two decades in prison on a wrongful conviction, was flooded with frantic messages and calls from people on the inside. —Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

Then a frantic 19-point rally in the closing minutes made the final score feel closer than most of the night’s action let on. —Manny Navarro, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025

George Russell led the Singapore Grand Prix from start to finish on Sunday, taking his second win of the season by coasting clear of the frantic competition for places behind him. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

Getting these fragrance gifts early comes with the benefits of beating the frantic shopping rush and winning at Christmas. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for frantic

• antic
• atlantic
• gigantic
• pedantic
• romantic
• semantic
• vedantic
• transatlantic
• unromantic

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