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
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
The Kings ran out to a four-goal lead then had to hold off a frantic Edmonton comeback to beat the Oilers 6-5 in a wild opener of a best-of-seven first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night.
—
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Until his son was cleared on June 27, Mark Dixon, a medical sales representative in the oncology field, was frantic with worry.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Students were seen leaving the campus and heading toward the nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium as frantic parents arrived to look for their children.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
His brother, James Barr, told the outlet that the family immediately began a frantic search.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Until his son was cleared on June 27, Mark Dixon, a medical sales representative in the oncology field, was frantic with worry.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Students were seen leaving the campus and heading toward the nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium as frantic parents arrived to look for their children.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
His brother, James Barr, told the outlet that the family immediately began a frantic search.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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
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