frantically
adverb
fran·ti·cal·ly
ˈfran-ti-k(ə-)lē 
: in a frantic manner : in a nervously hurried, desperate, or panic-stricken way
searching frantically for the key fob
[Carlton] Fisk stood several feet down the line, frantically urging the ball fair with his hands. It hit the yellow foul pole above the wall, a home run.—
Ron Fimrite
Ron FimriteWine companies, fearing that younger drinkers are slipping out of their grasp, have been frantically trying to create products that will be viewed as edgy, hip and fun.—Mitch Frank
Mitch FrankDuring the new moon, a hatch of baby sea turtles erupts from the sand, struggling frantically to get to the ocean.—Bernice Notenboom
Bernice NotenboomExamples of frantically in a Sentence
the veterinarian ran frantically from room to room looking for the escaped hamster
Recent Examples on the Web
Footage captures the chaotic initial response, with officers unsure if the shooter remained in the building and frantically searching for victims.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
At the same time, as influential tech journalist Casey Newton noted, TikTok’s algorithm seemed to fail immediately after the handover, leaving its largely Gen Z fanbase frantically seeking an alternative to the addictive feed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Konyndyk argued that mortality data won’t reflect many adverse outcomes of the aid cuts, because humanitarians and aid recipients are frantically reallocating funds; for example, taking money away from education to put it towards food.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
This was mostly because Sonia was busy with the German shepherd, who slept behind a gate in the kitchen and barked frantically whenever another parent came to the door.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
At the same time, as influential tech journalist Casey Newton noted, TikTok’s algorithm seemed to fail immediately after the handover, leaving its largely Gen Z fanbase frantically seeking an alternative to the addictive feed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Konyndyk argued that mortality data won’t reflect many adverse outcomes of the aid cuts, because humanitarians and aid recipients are frantically reallocating funds; for example, taking money away from education to put it towards food.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
This was mostly because Sonia was busy with the German shepherd, who slept behind a gate in the kitchen and barked frantically whenever another parent came to the door.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantically
Cite this Entry
“Frantically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantically. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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