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Synonyms

frenzied

American  
[fren-zeed] / ˈfrɛn zid /
Sometimes phrensied

adjective

  1. wildly excited or enthusiastic.

    frenzied applause.

  2. violently agitated; frantic; wild.

    a frenzied mob.


frenzied British  
/ ˈfrɛnzɪd /

adjective

  1. filled with or as if with frenzy; wild; frantic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of frenzied

First recorded in 1790–1800; frenzy + -ed 3


Explanation

The adjective frenzied describes something wild, excited, or rushed. You may have a frenzied morning when you've overslept and need to get lunches made, the dog walked, and the kids off to school within the next fifteen minutes. Run! Frenzied is from the word frenzy, which itself is from the Latin word phreneticus, meaning "delirious." Words related to frenzied include frantic and frenetic, but frenzied isn't necessarily bad. If you're a rock star, you may enjoy a frenzied crowd at your concerts, and you feed off the energy and adoration you get from them. If it's your first time on stage, however, that same frenzied crowd may send you into a panic.

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Vocabulary lists containing frenzied

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.

See Examples For:

A trek to the site of the deadliest avalanche in California history reveals a surprisingly tranquil spot, a stark contrast to the frenzied 15 minutes that determined who survived.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

He’s worried that the frenzied online discourse will only make the problem worse.

From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2026

Others say the company's super-cheap products and frenzied online marketing encourage a culture of overconsumption to the detriment of the environment.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Fourteen publishers bid for the U.S. rights, and Macmillan’s Minotaur Books imprint won the frenzied auction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Otherwise their clothes, especially their tights, platform shoes, and ratty hairstyles were as frenzied as they were filthy.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

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