hectic

[hek-tik]

adjective

1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc..

   The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting.

   Synonyms: chaotic, wild, frenzied, frantic

hectic

/ ˈhɛktɪk /

adjective

1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement

2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush )

noun

1. a hectic fever or flush

2. rare,  a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush

Other Word Forms

• hectically adverb
• hecticly adverb
• hecticness noun
• nonhectic adjective
• nonhectically adverb
• unhectic adjective
• unhectically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hectic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikós “habitual, consumptive,” adjective derivative of héxis “possession, state, habit,” equivalent to hech- (base of échein “to have, hold, keep”) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English etyk, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of hectic¹

C14: from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos habitual, from hexis state, from ekhein to have

Example Sentences

"Watching them figure it out and start flying their bodies is always a heartwarming moment. Sometimes though, it can get a little hectic up there when you let someone go for their first time."

From BBC

Within hours, a perfect morning turned into one of the most hectic and gut-wrenching days on Mt.

From Los Angeles Times

For context: we’re just a little family of two, eating dinner at home most nights even with hectic schedules.

From Salon

In addition to using new technology to avoid collisions, he said there should be a review of "really tight schedules", which created "very, very hectic conditions" for seafarers.

From BBC

"We are rather tired after a hectic night of frantic mopping," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• boisterous 
• chaotic 
• exciting 
• frenetic 
• frenzied 
• heated 
• tumultuous 
• unsettled