frantic

adjective

fran·​tic ˈfran-tik 

1

: emotionally out of control

especially : feeling or showing fear or anxiety

was frantic while waiting for news

frantic cries for help

a frantic search for the lost child

2

: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity

making frantic party preparations

3

archaic : mentally unsound

franticness

ˈfran-tik-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of frantic

• agitated
• distraught
• worried
• frightened

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

As oxygen runs out and the girl’s frantic parents demand action, cracks begin to appear in their story. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026

But some key details remain unknown, including exactly what went down during those frantic seconds at the hotel and what motivated him. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026

The victim’s husband, who works as an Uber driver to support his family, called Azizov about two hours after the crash, frantic to find his wife. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026

Williams documented the frantic drive and brisk walk back as other guests looked on from balconies in a video on her YouTube channel. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantike "temporarily deranged, delirious" — more at frenetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for frantic

• antic
• atlantic
• gigantic
• pedantic
• romantic
• semantic
• vedantic
• transatlantic
• unromantic

Kids 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

frantically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

franticly

-i-klē

adverb