rabid

[ rab-id ]

adjective

1. irrationally extreme in opinion or practice:

   a rabid isolationist;

   a rabid baseball fan.

   Synonyms: bigoted, fanatical, ardent, fervent, zealous

2. furious or raging; violently intense:

   a rabid hunger.

3. affected with or pertaining to rabies; mad.

rabid

/ ˈreɪ-; ˈræbɪd; rəˈbɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. relating to or having rabies
2. zealous; fanatical; violent; raging

Derived Forms

• rabidity, noun
• ˈrabidly, adverb

Other Words From

• rab·id·i·ty [r, uh, -, bid, -i-tee, ra-], rabid·ness noun
• rabid·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabid¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin rabidus “raving, furious, mad,” from rab(ere) “to rave, be mad” + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabid¹

C17: from Latin rabidus frenzied, mad, from rabere to be mad

Example Sentences

He’d been egged on throughout the year by a coterie of far-right influencers and yes-men who openly dreamed of fostering an outlet friendly to formerly banned manosphere types, rabid conspiracists, and neo-Nazis, under the guise of “free-speech absolutism.”

From Slate

During their two-night run at the Fonda, the dance floor was filled with young fans whom Taylor happily describes as “young frothers, just frothing about life, like rabid frothing,” she says with a laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

Jones adds that each day he will see more people tattooing the characters' faces on their body, explaining "this is a rabid fan base".

From BBC

As Elon Musk’s rabid pro-Trump mania makes clear, billionaires are wielding their financial might in this year’s presidential election far more than in any previous campaign—and far more openly, too.

From Slate

I mean, he just never stops: his convictions, his indictments, January 6 — he encouraged a rabid insurrection and then, in real time, refused to do anything to stop it, and now has promised if elected again, he'll pardon those who did it.

From Salon

Related Words

• crazed
• delirious
• enthusiastic
• fanatical
• fervent
• frenzied
• furious
• virulent
• zealous