amok

[uh-muhk, uh-mok]

noun

1. (among members of certain Southeast Asian cultures) a psychic disturbance characterized by depression followed by a manic urge to murder.

adjective

1. amuck.

amok

/ əˈmʌk, əˈmɒk, əˈmʌk /

noun

1. a state of murderous frenzy, originally observed among Malays

adverb

1. to run about with or as if with a frenzied desire to kill

Word History and Origins

Origin of amok¹

First recorded in 1865–70, amok is from the Malay word amuk

Word History and Origins

Origin of amok¹

C17: from Malay amoq furious assault

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. run / go amok. amuck.

Example Sentences

The men, who were described in court as "smirking" killers, ran amok at the music video shoot and fatally stabbed Klevi and Leo and severely injured Abdullah Abdullahi, 28, for an "adrenaline rush".

From BBC

Their defending has been such an abomination that Celtic, with no dependable striker but with a point to prove, could potentially run amok.

From BBC

This, I realized while standing there, was public policy in action, MAGA’s culture of cruelty and gangster capitalism run amok on the street level.

From Salon

That and Curry exiting the stage when the Lions were threatening to run amok and trouble the record books.

From BBC

Newsom did a good job channeling those emotions and articulating the dangers of an imprudent president run amok.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• desperately 
• excitedly www.thesaurus.com
• madly 
• uncontrollably www.thesaurus.com
• wildly www.thesaurus.com