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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
Dr. Sarah Kinsella, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
It’s been well-established by color psychology that hue can effect your mood—and considering their hectic lives as young doctors, homeowners Elea and Armando needed to keep things chill outside of their 9-to-5.
—Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2026
Anyone who even vaguely follows anime knows that the beginning of a new season is hectic.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026
At the same time, tourists from New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore could enjoy escaping their hectic urban lifestyles by traveling back to what was portrayed as simpler times.
—John Haddad, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
