as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
the familiar scene in horror movies where everyone runs berserk as the monster destroys everything in sight
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as in psychotic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or berserker
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of berserk
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2023
Dude started another fight, but this was even more berserk than the first.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
New York Times, 20 July 2022
Markets went berserk, there was a bond meltdown, and the country’s prime minister ultimately lost her job.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 17 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for berserk
Adjective
The bounce is outrageous, the handclaps are berserk, and Myaap is as restless as ever, even rapping through the soaring chorus when most would just use it as a breather.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2023
Dude started another fight, but this was even more berserk than the first.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
Noun
In the first scene, a chimpanzee goes berserk on the set of a sitcom, a moment of absurd, bloody terror that becomes a motif and a thematic key.
—New York Times, 20 July 2022
Markets went berserk, there was a bond meltdown, and the country’s prime minister ultimately lost her job.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 17 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for berserk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berserk
Adverb
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Later, a boy spotted the car and frantically rode his scooter to try and get a better look.—
Saahil Desai,
The Atlantic,
29 Mar. 2025
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Seth Rogen’s new sitcom, The Studio, sees him as a movie exec frantically trying to do the impossible: make good films that are also blockbusters.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
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Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Instead, stabilizers are cowboys tasked with wrangling a very specific herd: water.—
Ali Bouzari,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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How many movie cowboys would admit that? ‘Shirkers’ (2018) Stream it on Netflix.—
Ben Kenigsberg,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
The two met in London and, wildly, got matching tattoos together one drunken night, but that was the end of it.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
30 Mar. 2025
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Blithe promises made to voters about costs and completion dates proved to be wildly inaccurate.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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He’s written 16 books and is currently writing at a madman pace of one book per year.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Hollywood or Bust was directed by ’50s madman Frank Tashlin, whose comedies were like ebullient clashing plaids.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
19 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
All of it wild-caught.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
orlandosentinel.com,
14 Aug. 2020
-
Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street.—
Paul A. Smith,
Journal Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Sitting in the visiting manager’s office at Yankee Stadium, Brewers manager Pat Murphy declined to go ballistic over the torpedo bats that blew up his pitching staff over the first three games of the season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2025
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Prior to his painting, this transfer class, now called ballistic capture transfers, or weak stability boundary (WSB) transfers, did not exist, Belbruno said.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Stephanie Weeks, a Black actress and director who is a frequent Target Margin collaborator, wears one of these WHITE sashes as Julie, the showboat’s leading lady, as does Edwin Joseph, playing her husband and co-star, Steve.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2025
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Still, the factor that may have been most harmful were his relationships with fellow Republican lawmakers, who regarded him as an empty showboat willing to hurt the party to gain attention.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Berserk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berserk. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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