hectic

[ hek-tik ]

/ ˈhɛk tɪk /

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See synonyms for: hectic / hectically on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.: The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting.

OTHER WORDS FOR hectic

frantic, frenzied, wild, chaotic.

See synonyms for hectic on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of hectic

1350–1400; Middle English <Late Latin hecticus<Greek hektikós habitual, consumptive, adj. corresponding to héxis possession, state, habit, equivalent to *hech-, base of échein to have + -sis-sis; see -tic; replacing Middle English etyk<Middle French

OTHER WORDS FROM hectic

hec·ti·cal·ly, hec·tic·ly, adverbhec·tic·ness, nounnon·hec·tic, adjectivenon·hec·ti·cal·ly, adverb

un·hec·tic, adjectiveun·hec·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hectic in a sentence

For some athletes — especially with high school seasons and senior-year festivities affected by the pandemic — the benefits to enrolling early make this option attractive, even though it requires a hectic entry into the college game.
James Graham III could still be in high school. Instead, he’s settling in at Maryland.|Emily Giambalvo|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
We’re expecting it to be pretty hectic, hopefully nothing too crazy.
High Anxiety|Truthbetold|November 4, 2020|TruthBeTold.news
During hectic times, customers are more emotional — this can either work for or against you.
CEO’s take on emerging industry trends and strategies: Q&A with Moz’s Sarah Bird|Kamaljeet Kalsi|October 20, 2020|Search Engine Watch
It was so hectic, she found herself helping bring carts back to the front of the club, as the chain calls its stores, in an all-hands-on-deck moment.
How Sam’s Club helped small businesses through COVID|Phil Wahba|October 1, 2020|Fortune

He can aim to control the pace or to make things more hectic.
The Raptors’ Defense Is Almost Never The Same, But It’s Always Really Good|Jared Dubin|August 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Her eyes shone hectically bright and strangely alluring to the detective.
Whispering Wires|Henry Leverage
"There is certainly something very strange about all this," he whispered a bit hectically.
Peace on Earth, Good-will to Dogs|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Eyes that met when commands were given and received were dull from want of sleep or hectically bright as a hypochondriac's.
The Last Shot|Frederick Palmer
As Sagner turned back to me, and we passed on out of hearing, I noted two red spots flaming hectically in his cheeks.
The Sick-a-Bed Lady|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
She did not lean hectically over the rail and talk rapidly from the outside as did the young men reporters.
The Girl Scout's Triumph|Katherine Keene Galt

British Dictionary definitions for hectic

hectic

/ (ˈhɛktɪk) /

adjective

characterized by extreme activity or excitement

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

noun

a hectic fever or flush

rare a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush

Derived forms of hectic

hectically, adverb

Word Origin for hectic

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

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

hectic

OTHER WORDS FOR hectic

Origin of hectic

OTHER WORDS FROM hectic

Words related to hectic

How to use hectic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hectic

Derived forms of hectic

Word Origin for hectic