Did you know?
Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example. Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
Examples of hectic in a Sentence
Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
Another dealer told me that there is talk that some collectors, still feeling the fatigue from last year’s hectic fair calendar and auction square dance, are using the fires as an excuse to skip a fair that some see as less important than its East Coast counterparts.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Feb. 2025
The interior compartments offer ample space and organizational pockets, making sure everything stays in place even during hectic travel schedules.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2025
Nevertheless, Kennedy’s first weeks in office will likely be hectic ones, adding to the chaos of Trump’s nonstop executive orders and Elon Musk’s crackdowns on numerous federal agencies.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hectic
Cite this Entry
“Hectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hectic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
Share