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
Ron Hurtibise, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2025
Newport ’65 was really a Thanksgiving dinner gone amok, in which the prodigal son and the father and several uncles and others are fighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Adverb
Video bloggers amok After seven years in another Oakland Park home, the couple is itching to travel again — but without the headaches of traffic and shopping.
—Ron Hurtibise, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2025
Newport ’65 was really a Thanksgiving dinner gone amok, in which the prodigal son and the father and several uncles and others are fighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Mar. 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
-
In the video shared by Bennett, her dog can be initially seen strolling right past her before abruptly stopping and running up to Bennett with her tail wagging frantically.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
Pirates star Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double to put the team up 4-3 in the bottom of the inning when players from his team frantically tried to alert umpires and security the fan was on the warning track.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 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
-
In short, fate’s distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
The eastern coast of the Italian Riviera, beginning in Genoa and ending at the Tuscan border, ranks among the most famous seasides in the world, with wildly popular resorts like Portofino and Cinque Terre.—
Catherine Sabino,
Forbes.com,
3 May 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
-
Fortunately, nuclear weapons still remain a deterrent.—
Michael Kugelman,
Time,
3 May 2025
-
As a special envoy, Witkoff is the lead U.S. negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks and in administration peace efforts for the Israel-Hamas war and the Ukraine-Russia war.—
Matthew Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Amok.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amok. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share