frantic

American  

[fran-tik] / ˈfræn tɪk /

adjective

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

   Synonyms:

   distraught, disturbed, agitated, overwrought

2. Archaic. insane; mad.

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frantic British  

/ ˈfræntɪk /

adjective

1. distracted with fear, pain, joy, etc

2. marked by or showing frenzy

   frantic efforts

3. archaic insane

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Other Word Forms

• frantically adverb
• franticness noun

Etymology

Origin of frantic

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

Compare meaning

How does frantic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• frenetic vs. frantic

Example Sentences

Much of “Inside Out 2” was made in a frantic all-hands crunch because the filmmakers didn’t finalize their story until the fall before its June 2024 release.

From The Wall Street Journal

All those choices to make at a dead, frantic run with wolves pulling at her.

From Literature

She describes a loose, often frantic network of volunteers shuttling pigs across county lines to keep them from being listed as “free food” on Facebook.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Dubai's artificial island, empty beaches stand in stark contrast to frantic hotel lobbies, where stranded tourists have taken shelter as they wait for a way home.

From Barron's

The sound of frantic screams behind me made me turn as an elevator appeared and was immediately rushed, people cramming themselves into the only escape they could see.

From Literature

Related Words

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