berserk 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of berserknext
as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner the familiar scene in horror movies where everyone runs berserk as the monster destroys everything in sight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

berserk

2 of 3

adjective

as in ballistic

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Dissimilar Words

berserk

3 of 3

noun

variants or berserker
as in cowboy

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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 berserk
Adjective
This has unintended consequences when both Batel and Spock share a vision that sends Spock into a berserk rage. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 July 2025 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
Noun
Peer in on the New York team making a medium-to-deep run in the playoffs as every New Yorker in your life goes berserk. — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 16 May 2026 The crowd in Rio went berserk, and social media melted. — Bobby Ghosh, Time, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for berserk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berserk
  1. frantically
  2. ballistic
  3. cowboy
  4. wildly
  5. nuclear
  6. madman
  7. wild
  8. psychotic
Adverb
  • By halftime, one was at the hospital, and the other was running for his life on every snap while frantically shaking out his throwing hand.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Their verbal volley is interrupted as each of them frantically googles quotes and facts on everything from the Zionist leader Jabotinsky to the American actor Jordan Peele.
    — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of frantically
Adjective
  • Both companies also help produce the Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But Kyiv is swiftly innovating, with Ukraine now developing its own ballistic missile to hit back at Russia and working with European countries on developing more anti-ballistic air defenses.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of ballistic
Noun
  • Don your spiffiest ten-gallon hat and boots, bring your whole family, and experience cowboy core like never before.
    — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Everyone chuckled, especially our Argentinian hosts, who had never met an Idaho cowboy quite like True before.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cowboy
Adverb
  • But with no enforceable salary cap and unlimited player movement, every year can be wildly different.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • From his wildly confident personality to wearing every single emotion on his sleeve to never passing on an opportunity to celebrate on the field, humble wouldn't necessarily be the first word fans would use to describe the Chicago Cubs superstar.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of wildly
Adjective
  • South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Seoul remained opposed to officially recognizing the North as a nuclear-weapon state, something Kim has long sought.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Engineers will then study how the compact nuclear heating system performs during roughly 14 Earth days of darkness.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of nuclear
Noun
  • Either Republicans will retain control of Congress, or enough Democrats (one hopes) will prevail so Congress can reclaim its authority over a madman executive.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Many writers travelled to Jonestown to survey the shambles and determine whether this was a utopian experiment gone astray or a madman’s fever dream destined to fail.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Definition of madman
Adverb
  • Two more runs scored in the fourth inning when Ohtani, Pages and Freeman strung together three consecutive two-out singles and Keller wild-pitched a run home.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
  • First, like cucumbers, squash is a wild-growing vegetable that competes for garden space, according to Dilmore.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • Psychiatric disorders are generally divided into mood disorders and psychotic disorders, Osborne said; postpartum psychosis is a mood disorder, in which mood symptoms accompany psychotic symptoms.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But to make some generalization that all career women are psychotic because Glenn Close happened to be psychotic at the end of that movie is just silly.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of psychotic

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berks
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Cite this Entry

“Berserk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berserk. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on berserk

Nglish: Translation of berserk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about berserk

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