frenzy

[ fren-zee ]

noun

, plural fren·zies.

1. a state of extreme mental agitation or wild excitement:

   There's something big businesses love about working their customers into a frenzy of anticipation.

   Antonyms: calm

2. a burst of agitated, energetic action or activity:

   Athens in the late 1960s was in the midst of a building frenzy.

3. a fit or spell of mental derangement; a paroxysm characteristic of or resulting from a mania:

   He is subject to these frenzies several times a year.

   Synonyms: raving, fury, rage, aberration, lunacy, insanity, madness

   Antonyms: sanity

verb (used with object)

, fren·zied, fren·zy·ing.

1. to drive into a frenzy; make frantic:

   She was frenzied by fear when she smelled the smoke.

frenzy

/ ˈfrɛnzɪ /

noun

1. violent mental derangement
2. wild excitement or agitation; distraction
3. a bout of wild or agitated activity

   a frenzy of preparations

verb

1. tr to make frantic; drive into a frenzy

Other Words From

• fren·zi·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frenesie, from Old French, from Late Latin phrenēsis, from Late Greek, for Greek phrenîtis; phrenitis

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

C14: from Old French frenesie , from Late Latin phrēnēsis madness, delirium, from Late Greek, ultimately from Greek phrēn mind; compare frenetic

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, right-wing groups from the Proud Boys to the Michigan Militia could join an explosive frenzy.

From Ozy

Foxx has yet to fully explain the series of events, which has only fed the media frenzy around the case.

From ProPublica

That conspiracy-fueled frenzy was propelled in part by credulous mainstream news coverage, and by false accusations and even convictions of day-care owners.

From MIT Technology Review

In the Philippines, it has set off a frenzy as the 7-foot-2 18-year-old moves one step closer to becoming the first Philippines-born player in the NBA.

From Ozy

Although only one recession saw the bona fide busting of a frenzy, all six included bear markets.

From Fortune

Porter was convicted and shortly after sentenced to death by a judge who compared him to a shark in a feeding frenzy.

From The Daily Beast

I am scared that, like me, they will arrive and see a frenzy of disorganization, fear and, most frightening, quarantine.

From The Daily Beast

The media goes into a frenzy when egregious examples of bad mothers occur, like Susan Smith or Casey Anthony.

From The Daily Beast

Three days after the media frenzy, Dr. Sisley got a letter from the HHS.

From The Daily Beast

Republicans have been in a frenzy since realizing that the IRS was missing two years of Lerner emails.

From The Daily Beast

They hurry in a frenzy up the back-stairs about 1.25, and they pace up and down in a frenzy till half-past one.

From Project Gutenberg

Eugene Miller, in a fine frenzy, threw himself into a chair beside Aristide.

From Project Gutenberg

Here on the bridge he paused and turned in a frenzy to scream to his followers that they should fetch more torches.

From Project Gutenberg

She clasped her thin hands in a frenzy of impotent rage—with Anne Ashton had lain the real triumph, with herself the sacrifice.

From Project Gutenberg

Such is the case even at the present day in cities wherein the degree of folly and frenzy exceeds that of ancient Alexandria.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• burst
• craze
• excitement
• fever
• free-for-all
• furor
• fury
• hysteria
• madness
• mania
• outburst
• passion
• rage
• turmoil