1
: emotionally out of control
2
: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity
made a frantic search for the lost child
frantic cries for help
3
archaic
: mentally unsound
Synonyms
Examples of frantic in a Sentence
The girl was frantic with fear.
They made a frantic search for the missing child.
They were making frantic preparations for the party.
a frantic attempt to finish on schedule
Recent Examples on the Web
Her dance, with disheveled hair, frantic eyes and red vermillion spread across her forehead, was truly chilling.
—
Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
As the calendar moves away from the frantic sports equinox, the NBA stands to gain more attention for its early season action with its annual trip to Mexico.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Buckle up for a frantic finish, as Trump and Harris crisscross the country making their final pitch to voters in the key battleground states.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Inspired by King Lear, Armfield’s new novel depicts a city on the brink, slipping from the tight, frantic perspectives of the sisters into a larger understanding of the city itself, which is slowly being flooded by a never-ending rain.
—Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frantic 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
As the calendar moves away from the frantic sports equinox, the NBA stands to gain more attention for its early season action with its annual trip to Mexico.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Buckle up for a frantic finish, as Trump and Harris crisscross the country making their final pitch to voters in the key battleground states.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Inspired by King Lear, Armfield’s new novel depicts a city on the brink, slipping from the tight, frantic perspectives of the sisters into a larger understanding of the city itself, which is slowly being flooded by a never-ending rain.
—Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frantic
Dictionary Entries Near frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
frantic
adjective
fran·tic
ˈfrant-ik 
1
: wildly excited
frantic cries for help
was frantic with fear
2
: marked by wild and hurried activity
a frantic search for the missing child
franticly
adverb
-i-klē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share