hyperkinetic

adjective hy·per·ki·net·ic \ ˌhī-pər-kə-ˈne-tik , -kī- \

Definition of hyperkinetic

1 :of, relating to, or affected with hyperkinesis or hyperactivity

the hyperkinetic child

2 :characterized by fast-paced or frenetic activity

a hyperkinetic movie

Examples of hyperkinetic in a Sentence

an elderly couple who are unable to control their hyperkinetic grandson

Recent Examples of hyperkinetic from the Web

Fifteen years later, Little Richard and Cindy Crawford reprised the ad, including a more hyperkinetic version of the classic jingle.

— OregonLive.com, "The 25 best celebrity TV ads ever, from Donald Trump's board game to Scarlett Johansson's sexy stand-up routine," 2 Aug. 2017
The scene takes Eggsy all over London, and in keeping with director Matthew Vaughn’s signature style, is hyperkinetic and wild.

— christopher rosen, PEOPLE.com, "Kinetic Kingsman: The Golden Circle Opening Scene Debuts at Comic-Con," 20 July 2017
But despite 4's lack of crossover hits, Beyonce absolutely slayed her hyperkinetic set with singles new and old, including a brief Destiny's Child reunion mini-set for punctuation.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "The 75 Moments That Defined the Decade in Music (So Far)," 20 July 2017
But the petite, hyperkinetic woman had her hand in many things.

— moriah balingit, Washington Post, "After a 64-year school career in Manassas, an 89-year-old guidance counselor reluctantly retires," 16 July 2017
The hyperkinetic Williams has numerous off-court sponsors and business interests, from Nike and Gatorade to Home Shopping Network and an ownership stake in the Miami Dolphins.

— douglas robson, The Denver Post, "Serena Williams is already plotting her post-baby domination," 16 June 2017
It skates by on delicious scenery chewing by Jude Law as the uncle who has usurped Arthur’s birthright, the charisma of Charlie Humman in the title role and Ritchie hyperkinetic cinematic style.

— bruce manuel, The Mercury News, "Capsule reviews of films now playing in the Bay Area," 26 May 2017
There are many reasons to visit Vietnam: to enjoy a perfect bowl of pho on a Hanoi street corner, sample a stunning selection of new hotels, or marvel at the contrast between the country's hyperkinetic cities and serene countryside.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "Flight Deal: U.S. to Vietnam from $495 Round-Trip," 2 Mar. 2017
The Fifth was a bouncy, altogether unserious, overly accessible, ever-smiling and glad-handing, motormouthed, hyperkinetic lightweight of a ruler, in the contemptuous view of the majority of my former fellow-citizens.

— mikhail iossel, The New Yorker, "Five Rulers and One Presidential Press Conference," 22 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hyperkinetic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Since the prefix hyper- means "above, beyond", hyperkinetic describes motion beyond the usual. The word is usually applied to children, and often describes the condition of almost uncontrollable activity or muscular movements called attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder *(ADHD). Kids with ADHD are usually not just hyperkinetic but also inattentive, forgetful, and flighty. Though they're often treated with drugs, many experts believe there are better ways of dealing with the problem. Lots of people now shorten both *hyperactive and hyperkinetic to simply hyper ("He's been hyper all morning"), but usually don't mean it too seriously.