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Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example. Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
Examples of hectic in a Sentence
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
But the hectic scenes belie the ever-present threat of violence for civilians living in this contested region.
—Sarah Dean, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Their wives and girlfriends are a mainstay at games — even when their schedules are as hectic as pop star Taylor Swift's.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
On hectic fall nights, this dump and bake casserole comes together in a snap.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hectic
Cite this Entry
“Hectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hectic. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
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