1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
the frantic parents were searching all over the fairgrounds for their lost child
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in furious
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
the holiday season seems to be moving along at a frantic pace
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frantic
The most dramatic recent example came with the frantic apprehension of an armed man in the hotel where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was being held.
—
Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But the rescue grew more frantic as time passed, and the mom struggled to maintain her footing.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
As oxygen runs out and the girl’s frantic parents demand action, cracks begin to appear in their story.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
But some key details remain unknown, including exactly what went down during those frantic seconds at the hotel and what motivated him.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But the rescue grew more frantic as time passed, and the mom struggled to maintain her footing.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
As oxygen runs out and the girl’s frantic parents demand action, cracks begin to appear in their story.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
But some key details remain unknown, including exactly what went down during those frantic seconds at the hotel and what motivated him.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frantic
Adjective
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According to the outlet, the victim became agitated after taking a significant quantity of drugs.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
-
His knuckles tapped an agitated beat on the steering wheel along to soft jazz playing on the radio.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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The milestone came during Indiana’s season opener against the Dallas Wings on Saturday — a game the Fever ultimately dropped, 107-104, despite a furious offensive performance from both teams.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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And the opponent’s goals came fast and furious in the opening 45 minutes plus stoppage time — especially during the first 26.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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Cho's sister Anny, who was too distraught to appear on camera, told CBS News Chicago that her brother worked primarily in finance but worked for Uber on the side.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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When a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a subway goes horribly wrong, Reacher is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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These mad scientists then trained a small flock of sheep to recognize four celebrities—Emma Watson, Barack Obama, Jake Gyllenhaal, and the BBC newsreader Fiona Bruce—from their pictures on the internet.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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While Sharpe’s casting was inevitably, and depressingly, dismissed as another sign of wokeism gone mad, the half-Japanese/half-British actor ultimately brings something new to the table.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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At Cal Poly Pomona, director of media relations Cynthia Peters directed students and staff who were worried about being unable to access their course materials as a result of the incident to a Reddit post uploaded by the school’s Bookstore faculty on Thursday.—
Kristy Hutchings,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
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But locals are worried that other companies could move in.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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But creating that space has proven challenging, with plans for two new shelters in the city limits abandoned in recent years after fierce neighborhood opposition.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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Wildlife refuges and other nature areas protect 40% of Block Island, and residents are renowned for their fierce opposition to anything that might imperil their pristine Atlantic home.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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The woman who found Nado said the feline appeared frightened but was in overall good health, according to the news outlet.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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What sets this masa harina apart is its distinct, intense corn flavor.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 May 2026
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Being confined to a wooden chair, wearing that impressive multilayered costume, in the intense heat of Gran Canaria.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frantic. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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