frantic

[ fran-tik ]

adjective

1. desperate or wild with excitement, passion, fear, pain, etc.; frenzied.

   Synonyms: distraught, disturbed, agitated, overwrought

2. Archaic. insane; mad.

frantic

/ ˈfræntɪk /

adjective

1. distracted with fear, pain, joy, etc
2. marked by or showing frenzy

   frantic efforts

3. archaic.
   insane

Derived Forms

• ˈfrantically, adverb
• ˈfranticness, noun

Other Words From

• fran·ti·cal·ly adverb
• fran·tic·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frantic¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English frantik, frenetik, phrentique (the spelling with a appears in the 14th century but is unexplained), from Old French frenetique ( French frénétique ), from Latin phrenēticus, phrenīticus “mad, delirious,” from Greek phrenētikós, phrenītikós “suffering from inflammation of the brain or delerium” ( phrenitis ( def ) ); frenzy, -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of frantic¹

C14: from Old French frenetique , from Latin phrenēticus mad, frenetic

Example Sentences

The very short headline set was pretty typical Carti–ripping live metal guitars, frantic redlined vocals and a scrum of new cuts like “Ketamine” that seethed with tension and circle-pit chaos.

From Los Angeles Times

It was frantic and messy but Scotland slowly gained composure and piled on the points.

From BBC

The frantic finale also prevented a dream first game at Allianz Stadium for Sleightholme, who won his third cap on Saturday.

From BBC

The Kansas City Chiefs somehow kept their unbeaten streak going in the most dramatic fashion on a Sunday of frantic finishes in the NFL.

From BBC

Her parents were frantic because it appeared she had not been home all night.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitated
• angry
• delirious
• distraught
• frenetic
• frenzied
• furious
• hectic
• mad
• overwrought
• weird