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
Another camera captures staff realizing what was going on, frantic to stop the patient and to help.
—
Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The rally caps a frantic 24 hours.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Posts capturing students' frantic moments inside a school bus that was clipped by a train have gained traction on social media and garnered national attention.
—Michelle Spitzer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
The move comes at the start of what will be a frantic offseason.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frantic
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Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The rally caps a frantic 24 hours.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Posts capturing students' frantic moments inside a school bus that was clipped by a train have gained traction on social media and garnered national attention.
—Michelle Spitzer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
The move comes at the start of what will be a frantic offseason.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 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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