rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈra-bəd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
also
ˈrā- How to pronounce rabid (audio)
1
a
: extremely violent : furious
b
: going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion
rabid editorials
a rabid supporter
2
: affected with rabies
rabidity noun
rabidly
ˈra-bəd-lē How to pronounce rabid (audio)
 also  ˈrā-
adverb
rabidness noun

Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike a year ago, CSU (0-1) walked away from a road opener at a Power 4 school with heads held reasonably high, having scared a rabid Huskies crowd half to death for three quarters. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025 Our team is made up of rabid Shadowrun fans, and the French versions of Shadowrun books come with extra content like bonus chapters, adventures and errata. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 After the success of season one, which left many of the most important questions unanswered, Stiller was well aware that a second season without definitive revelations would risk disappointing Severance’s rabid fanbase. Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025 While Mars itself is the subject of fascination and rabid speculation, Martians, as a species and concept, remain mostly an abstraction. David Kamp, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rabid

Word History

Etymology

Latin rabidus mad, from rabere

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rabid was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rabid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabid. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid ˈrab-əd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
 also  ˈrā-bəd
1
: extremely violent : furious
2
: going to extreme lengths (as in interest or opinion)
rabid supporters
3
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog
rabidly adverb

Medical Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid
ˈrab-əd also ˈrā-bəd
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog

More from Merriam-Webster on rabid

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