rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈra-bəd 

also

ˈrā- 

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

a rabid dog

rabidity

rə-ˈbi-də-tē 

ra-, 

rā-

noun

rabidly

ˈra-bəd-lē 

also ˈrā-

adverb

rabidness noun

Synonyms of rabid

• extreme
• radical
• revolutionary

Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters

Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Klæbo’s rabid climb was almost sinister, a Newtonian affront against gravity and the native difficulty of hills. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

The news broke the hearts of the rabid fans eager to see a more brutalist Michelangelo on a vengeance mission on the big screen. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026

In its place, frustration has grown within a rabid fan base that was hoping the front office would find a way to add Giannis Antetokounmpo or another big star to help fill the large void that Butler’s injury created. —Nick Friedell, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026

Welch was not a rabid anti-communist, just a realist who wanted to protect Fisher by ensuring this past association would not be used against him. —Kristen Monroe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin rabidus mad, from rabere

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈrab-əd 

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