frenzy

1 of 2

noun

fren·​zy ˈfren-zē 

plural frenzies

1

a

: a temporary madness

in a rage amounting to a frenzy

b

: a violent mental or emotional agitation

… almost weeping in a frenzy of anxiety …

—Colleen McCullough

2

: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity

a shopping frenzy

… the mob chanted itself into a frenzy …

—C. Carr

frenzy

2 of 2

verb

frenzied; frenzying

transitive verb

: to affect with frenzy

Synonyms

Noun

• agitation
• deliriousness
• delirium
• distraction
• fever
• feverishness
• flap
• furor
• furore
• fury
• hysteria
• rage
• rampage
• uproar

Verb

• crack
• craze
• derange
• loco
• madden
• unbalance
• unhinge
• unstring

Examples of frenzy in a Sentence

Noun

the buying frenzy just before Christmas

in its frenzy to flee the danger, the crowd became uncontrollable, and a number of people were trampled to death

Verb

local football fans who were frenzied by the fact that their team was going to the Super Bowl

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The internet was promptly whipped into a frenzy but thankfully, Powell’s tale has been debunked. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 June 2024

Walmart’s corporate frenzy Walmart’s budding anticipation for its new space comes in tandem with a frenzy of actions to strengthen the ranks of its corporate staff. —Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 7 June 2024

Verb

By now, enough time has passed that the flight has faded from daily conversation — around the Blue Jays, the Dodgers and a baseball industry that at the time had frenzied over the situation. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Though the show stretches across eight 45-minute episodes, diving into countless details and fantastical beings, its pacing often stalls, leading to a humdrum tone instead of a display frenzied with action. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English frenesie, franesie, frensy, fransy "insanity, delirium, fit of madness," borrowed from Anglo-French frenesie, frensye, borrowed from Medieval Latin phrenēsia, re-formation of Late Latin phrenēsis "inflammation of the brain, madness," derivative (by analogy with other Greek nouns in -ēsis with corresponding adjectives in -ētikos) of Latin phrenēticus "suffering from madness" — more at frenetic

Verb

derivative of frenzy entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1791, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing frenzy

• feeding frenzy

Kids Definition

frenzy

noun

fren·​zy

ˈfren-zē

plural frenzies

: great and often wild or disorderly activity

Medical Definition

frenzy

noun

fren·​zy ˈfren-zē 

plural frenzies

1

a

: a temporary madness

b

: a violent mental or emotional agitation

2

: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity

frenzied

-zēd 

adjective