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
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
Maya is frantic, given that this is her boss’ car.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
Despite first gaining notoriety as a frantic comedy YouTuber, the singer has spent most of the last decade as a purveyor of somber alt-R&B.
—Mehan Jayasuriya, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Unlike so many other places in Europe, with their EasyJet hubs and lockbox-enabled Airbnbs, the Jungfrau region's hospitality is, at this point, part of the traditional culture of the area—not some frantic, ad hoc adjustment made in the past decade.
—Alice Gregory, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s no grandstanding, no frantic clowning.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
Despite first gaining notoriety as a frantic comedy YouTuber, the singer has spent most of the last decade as a purveyor of somber alt-R&B.
—Mehan Jayasuriya, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Unlike so many other places in Europe, with their EasyJet hubs and lockbox-enabled Airbnbs, the Jungfrau region's hospitality is, at this point, part of the traditional culture of the area—not some frantic, ad hoc adjustment made in the past decade.
—Alice Gregory, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s no grandstanding, no frantic clowning.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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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