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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine, derived from a clothing dye called methylene blue, was first tested on agitated and delusional patients in 1952.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Trump has long agitated for changes at CNN, and few expect his Justice Department to block the transaction.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
His widow, Erika Kirk, was at this weekend’s dinner, visibly distraught as she was escorted out in her sequined cream dress.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
-
While rescuers searched in vain, distraught relatives of passengers rushed to the ValuJet counter at Miami International.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
But locals are worried that other companies could move in.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Later, the Moon squares Mars in Aries, which can make the moment feel more intense.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
-
Keep in mind that Pluto retrogrades happen every year for approximately half the year, but this particular cycle will be especially raw and intense, both at a personal and global level.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frantic. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
