as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
a moth kept banging hectically against the screen, seeking the light on the other side
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Recent Examples of hectically
When Grace first awakens on his ship, the film cuts hectically around, above, and below him, as if to approximate his mental and physical disorientation.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Tanner plunges into these ostentatiously autobiographical roles, heedlessly, hectically and without a psychiatric net.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The old Helena would have mumbled something under her breath, hectically pressed the call button a few more times, and fled the situation as quickly as possible.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Tanner plunges into these ostentatiously autobiographical roles, heedlessly, hectically and without a psychiatric net.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The old Helena would have mumbled something under her breath, hectically pressed the call button a few more times, and fled the situation as quickly as possible.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectically
Adverb
-
Ring camera footage obtained by the outlet shows a woman frantically knocking on a neighbor's door and begging for help moments after the child was struck.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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The student riding with Estabrook, who the choir director sent frantically driving for help, had raced to the neighboring oil refinery, where two cranes were dispatched to intervene.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Adverb
-
Marvel postproduction is more intense — wildly exciting but super intense.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
3 May 2026
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But there is plenty of action happening on the Met Gala red carpet—where celebrities make bold fashion statements, sometimes wildly interpreting that year’s dress code and other times bringing along a prop.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hectically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectically. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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