berserk

American  

[ber-surk, -zurk] / bərˈsɜrk, -ˈzɜrk /

adjective

1. violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged.

   He suddenly went berserk.

   Synonyms:

   lunatic, demented, rabid, maniacal, mad, violent

   Antonyms:

   calm, rational

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noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) Also berserker. an ancient Norse warrior who fought with frenzied rage in battle, possibly induced by eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.

berserk British  

/ bəˈzɜːk, -ˈsɜːk /

adjective

1. frenziedly violent or destructive (esp in the phrase go berserk )

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noun

1. Also called: berserker.  a member of a class of ancient Norse warriors who worked themselves into a frenzy before battle and fought with insane fury and courage

Usage

What does berserk mean? Berserk describes violent, destructive, or deranged behavior.Berserk frequently describes someone who is acting wild, crazy, or deranged. It is commonly used with forms of the verb go, as in go berserk or went berserk, meaning someone suddenly erupted into a frenzy of angry or violent behavior.In Norse and Germanic folklore, a berserk (or berserker) is a warrior who worships the Norse god Odin, fighting savagely and without control, possibly from eating hallucinogenic mushrooms. They were said to wear shirts made of bearskin (see “Where does berserk come from?” below) and were often the villains in Norse sagas. Today, this sense is used figuratively to define any person who is prone to acting out angrily, especially without cause.Example: I told him that his music wasn’t even that great, and he went berserk.

Other Word Forms

• berserkly adverb
• berserkness noun

Etymology

Origin of berserk

1865–70; < Old Norse berserkr, equivalent to ber- (either *ber-, base of bjǫrn bear ² or berr bare ¹ ) + serkr sark, shirt, armor

Example Sentences

"Out of nowhere, it just went berserk. Overnight, I sold 50 copies," Louis says.

From BBC

But it is the duo of Shannon and Macfadyen, portraying upright Americana and the American berserk, who are profound and unforgettable.

From The Wall Street Journal

The funniest moment in Jonathan Spector’s comedy “Eureka Day” is the live chat that goes berserk during an elementary school town hall convened to discuss vaccination policy after a mumps outbreak.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Wright asked why his "large and vocal" dog, which would surely have gone "berserk" if anyone entered his yard and took a vehicle, did not bark and wake him.

From BBC

“What can she tell us about the nature of American culture today? It turns out, listeners, Taylor Swift is a great lens into making sense of some of the American berserk.”

From Los Angeles Times