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Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example. Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
Examples of hectic in a Sentence
Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Saying Washington is in good spirits and communicating with the front office multiple times a day, the oldest manager in the major leagues at 73 will slow down his hectic schedule after undergoing a battery of medical exams over the past week.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 27 June 2025
In fact, the trade market was surprisingly dormant league-wide after widespread anticipation that a hectic two nights were in store.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 June 2025
Furthermore, structure, routine and predictable schedules are not just ways for parents to keep track of the hectic schedules of their children, but also have been demonstrated to improve sleep, physical health, mood, anxiety and academic success.
—Nasuh Malas, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hectic
Cite this Entry
“Hectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hectic. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
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