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

Derived Forms

• ˈhectically, adverb

Other Words From

• hecti·cal·ly hectic·ly adverb
• hectic·ness noun
• non·hectic adjective
• non·hecti·cal·ly adverb
• un·hectic adjective
• un·hecti·cal·ly 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

On the hectic, loud streets of New York City, that makes it easier for the operators in there to talk with one another.

From Popular-Science

On hectic, crowded job sites, she said, it’s not hard for targeted persecution to play out covertly.

From Washington Post

HoneywellWhile the Turbo on the Go fan won’t replace traditional AC, it’s a fantastic way to stay cool during a hectic workday.

From Popular-Science

It’s a balmy, golden summer and while things are optimistic as tourism relaunches in earnest—it isn’t even close to hectic yet.

From The Daily Beast

Even as the second wave was accelerating and after the WHO designated the new mutation “a variant of interest” on April 4, Modi kept up his hectic schedule ahead of state elections in West Bengal, personally appearing at numerous public rallies.

From MIT Technology Review

It's been hectic for Pragnell ever since he left Purdue and something tells me it's only going to get crazier.

From The Daily Beast

This is where the sporadic and hectic handling of the romance in the movies fails.

From The Daily Beast

We spoke with the mother of two and recent California transplant about fusing charitable work with a hectic career.

From The Daily Beast

She has been a regular fixture in the British gossip pages despite a hectic schedule of rehearsals.

From The Daily Beast

Following that brief and hectic moment, though, Robinson was hopeful.

From The Daily Beast

She had a lean, hectic face, and prominent blue eyes under masses of light hair.

From Project Gutenberg

A dreamer and a poet, he became wistfully gay on this hectic night among kindred spirits.

From Project Gutenberg

He stays to dinner, which is a hectic meal, for through it all I am tasting this Paris, this Paris that is waiting for me.

From Project Gutenberg

His colour was hectic and gaudy; and in composition he possessed little skill.

From Project Gutenberg

Next to her on the right was a Russian girl, a few years older than herself, with a pinched and hectic face.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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