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
Emergency crews rushed to the Lincoln Village Apartments Wednesday night after a frantic 911 call reported a child had fallen out a window.
—
Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
And there’s certainly no frantic planning of ways to get Jamie the hell out of North Carolina, which seems like the obvious thing to do here.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Another person in the building then came to her aid and went into the apartment along with the frantic woman, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
And there’s certainly no frantic planning of ways to get Jamie the hell out of North Carolina, which seems like the obvious thing to do here.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Another person in the building then came to her aid and went into the apartment along with the frantic woman, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 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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