frantic

[fran-tik]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: distraught, disturbed, agitated, overwrought

2. Archaic.,  insane; mad.

frantic

/ ˈfræntɪk /

adjective

1. distracted with fear, pain, joy, etc

2. marked by or showing frenzy

   frantic efforts

3. archaic,  insane

Other Word Forms

• frantically adverb
• franticness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frantic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of frantic¹

C14: from Old French frenetique , from Latin phrenēticus mad, _frenetic

Example Sentences

One can appreciate the contrast between the serenity of the brothers at the stake, heads raised in prayer, and the frantic, distressed attempts by the surrounding figures to evade the flames.

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In the final days of the Third Reich, the Nazis were more frantic than ever in their pursuit of their opponents, real or imagined, and were relentless in their efforts to squeeze out more denunciations.

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I see Autumn link up with Ama and start discussing strategy amid the noise through a combination of words and frantic writing.

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Penelope grew frantic, for now she was even more trapped than before.

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In a useless, frantic gesture, Penelope threw her arms wide to protect the children.

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Related Words

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