hectic

[hek-tik]

adjective

1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc..

   The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting.

   Synonyms: chaotic, wild, frenzied, frantic

hectic

/ ˈhɛktɪk /

adjective

1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement

2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush )

noun

1. a hectic fever or flush

2. rare,  a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush

Other Word Forms

• hectically adverb
• hecticly adverb
• hecticness noun
• nonhectic adjective
• nonhectically adverb
• unhectic adjective
• unhectically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hectic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikós “habitual, consumptive,” adjective derivative of héxis “possession, state, habit,” equivalent to hech- (base of échein “to have, hold, keep”) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English etyk, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of hectic¹

C14: from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos habitual, from hexis state, from ekhein to have

Example Sentences

"Watching them figure it out and start flying their bodies is always a heartwarming moment. Sometimes though, it can get a little hectic up there when you let someone go for their first time."

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Within hours, a perfect morning turned into one of the most hectic and gut-wrenching days on Mt.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For context: we’re just a little family of two, eating dinner at home most nights even with hectic schedules.

Read more on Salon

In addition to using new technology to avoid collisions, he said there should be a review of "really tight schedules", which created "very, very hectic conditions" for seafarers.

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"We are rather tired after a hectic night of frantic mopping," she said.

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Related Words

• boisterous 
• chaotic 
• exciting 
• frenetic 
• frenzied 
• heated 
• tumultuous 
• unsettled