berserk
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
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
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
Explanation
Berserk is another way of saying deranged, destructively violent, or unrestrained — like a wailing toddler ravaging the playroom when he's hopped up on sugar and long overdue for a nap. Famous writer and runner George Sheehan said, “If you want to win anything – a race, your self, your life – you have to go a little berserk.” He must have been thinking of the fierce Norse warriors called berserkrs that inspired the adjective we know to mean "crazed." Those warriors were feared to be fighters of superhuman strength who wore bear skins and chewed madly at their iron shields. It's safe to say most of their opponents ran away crying.
Vocabulary lists containing berserk
English Words Derived from Old Norse
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Where the Red Fern Grows
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Wednesday Wars
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last week, DHS said a group sometimes known as Dragonfly or Berserk Bear was targeting these systems again.
From Washington Post • Oct. 26, 2020
He repeatedly referenced a vampire character from "Berserk," Nosferatu Zodd, and tweeted an image of Zodd.
From Salon • Jul. 22, 2018
Ramos also identified with "Berserk" characters on several other occasions.
From Salon • Jul. 22, 2018
Bearded, massive, gaunt, propelling himself vigorously on heavy crutches like a "maimed Berserk," Henley made a spectacular impression.
From Time Magazine Archive
We have come to inquire after the local Berserk.
From A Diversity of Creatures by Kipling, Rudyard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
