frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik 

1

: emotionally out of control

2

: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity

made a frantic search for the lost child

frantic cries for help

3

archaic : mentally unsound

franticness

ˈfran-tik-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• agitated
• delirious
• distracted
• distrait
• distraught
• frenzied
• hysterical
• hysteric

Examples of frantic in a Sentence

The girl was frantic with fear.

They made a frantic search for the missing child.

They were making frantic preparations for the party.

a frantic attempt to finish on schedule

Recent Examples on the Web

President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration set off a tumultuous day at O’Hare International Airport as frantic relatives, hundreds of protesters and volunteer lawyers gathered there. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025

At the Damascus airport, Mazen made a few last frantic calls. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

What To Know Trump made the surprise comment at his Las Vegas rally, which capped a frantic week that included visits on Friday to both the North Carolina and Los Angeles disaster areas, where hurricane and wildfire damage remained fresh. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025

This caps off a frantic week after Topps announced the card worth a potential seven figures had been pulled by a young collector. —Larry Holder, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantike "temporarily deranged, delirious" — more at frenetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfrant-ik 

1

: wildly excited

frantic cries for help

was frantic with fear

2

: marked by wild and hurried activity

a frantic search for the missing child

frantically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

franticly

-i-klē

adverb