variants
or amuck
as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
returned to the classroom to find an escaped snake and her students running amok
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or amuck
as in berserk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of amok
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
While movie scenarios often portray AI run amok, commanding vast resources and taking control of critical infrastructure, LeCun points out that such capabilities would require not just intelligence but physical control and access that AI systems wouldn't have.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Adverb
Ron Berti Orlando We the People rise against Trump
We the People are rising strong against the Trump administration which has run amok, and Congress is AWOL in my view.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
While movie scenarios often portray AI run amok, commanding vast resources and taking control of critical infrastructure, LeCun points out that such capabilities would require not just intelligence but physical control and access that AI systems wouldn't have.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Wyatt Russell has been terrific as this avatar of male insecurity run wildly amok, but the script isn’t always doing him favors.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amok
Adverb
-
Harvard donors 'frantically' pushing school to cut deal with Trump, report says.—
FOXNews.com,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Instead of frantically making short-term fixes, Nadella looked to the horizon—transforming Microsoft into one of the world's most valuable companies.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But that was before Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear and before UConn star Paige Bueckers went absolutely berserk, scoring 40 in the Sweet 16.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The dissolve to a commercial break a moment later was silent, with no applause; the discourse the following week was predictably berserk.—
Vulture Staff,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
All of it wild-caught.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
orlandosentinel.com,
14 Aug. 2020
-
Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street.—
Paul A. Smith,
Journal Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
And yet our maniac coach is playing everyone too many minutes, including the injury prone players.—
James L. Edwards III,
The Athletic,
14 Jan. 2025
-
At first glance, Torres’ debut film seems like a quirky, millennial visual feast about a desperate El Salvadorian and a maniac artist.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
14 Mar. 2024
Adverb
-
Sinners is a wildly uncommon thing: a blockbuster that’s comfortable with uncertainty.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2025
-
That blockbuster, based on the wildly popular video game franchise of the same name, broke records with its $157-million domestic opening.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Here, a young fisherman washes up on a mysterious island, only to be captured by a deranged captain who is hunted by a dark hungry beast.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2023
-
Monday’s murder of six people, including three 9-year-olds, by a deranged attacker at a Christian primary school in Nashville is another sign of mental illness unleashed.—
The Editorial Board,
WSJ,
29 Mar. 2023
Adjective
-
The Iranian regime is enjoying the air of legitimacy granted to it by the Trump administration’s sudden pivot to direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Francis was most infamously known among trans communities for comparing trans people to nuclear weaponry, comments that gave us the best flagging shirts of all time.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Amok.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amok. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share