frenzy

[fren-zee]

noun

plural

frenzies 

1. a state of extreme mental agitation or wild excitement.

   There's something big businesses love about working their customers into a frenzy of anticipation.

   Antonyms: calm

2. a burst of agitated, energetic action or activity.

   Athens in the late 1960s was in the midst of a building frenzy.

3. a fit or spell of mental derangement; a paroxysm characteristic of or resulting from a mania.

   He is subject to these frenzies several times a year.

   Synonyms: raving, fury, rage, aberration, lunacy, insanity, madness
   Antonyms: sanity

verb (used with object)

frenzied, frenzying 

1. to drive into a frenzy; make frantic.

   She was frenzied by fear when she smelled the smoke.

frenzy

/ ˈfrɛnzɪ /

noun

1. violent mental derangement

2. wild excitement or agitation; distraction

3. a bout of wild or agitated activity

   a frenzy of preparations

verb

1. (tr) to make frantic; drive into a frenzy

Other Word Forms

• frenzily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frenesie, from Old French, from Late Latin phrenēsis, from Late Greek, for Greek phrenîtis; phrenitis

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

C14: from Old French frenesie , from Late Latin phrēnēsis madness, delirium, from Late Greek, ultimately from Greek phrēn mind; compare _frenetic

Example Sentences

The mother of Jay Slater has said online trolls accused her of murdering her son during the height of a social media frenzy after he disappeared on holiday in Tenerife last summer.

From BBC

"It's hard to understand how low we degraded common, regular people to a state of that much hunger and frenzy about food."

From BBC

Fans launched into a frenzy of speculation, predicting a collab or new music from the pair.

From BBC

In his and Ferrera’s sturdy presence and in the serrated frenzy of Greengrass’ editing style, a shorter, tighter “The Lost Bus” would still hold plenty of dread and dramatic resilience.

From Los Angeles Times

The fan base and its loyalty multiplied this season when “Summer” pivoted to weekly episode drops, creating a nail-biting frenzy over Belly’s entanglements and how her story will end.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• burst 
• craze 
• excitement 
• fever 
• free-for-all 
• furor 
• fury 
• hysteria 
• madness 
• mania 
• outburst 
• passion 
• rage 
• turmoil