variants
or amuck
as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
returned to the classroom to find an escaped snake and her students running amok
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or amuck
as in berserk
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amok
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
The assassination led to a political vacuum and plunged Haiti deeper into chaos, with armed gangs running amok.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Adverb
More recently, Joe Biden’s German shepherds, Major and Commander, come to mind as the quintessential presidential pets that ran amok.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
The assassination led to a political vacuum and plunged Haiti deeper into chaos, with armed gangs running amok.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Wyatt Russell has been terrific as this avatar of male insecurity run wildly amok, but the script isn’t always doing him favors.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amok
Adverb
-
Two crew members have been recovered while another remains in Iran, with search-and-rescue teams frantically trying to find him.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The robot appears in the film at the info booth at the galactic weigh station as Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi frantically try to catch up with Peach.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This has unintended consequences when both Batel and Spock share a vision that sends Spock into a berserk rage.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
31 July 2025
-
But that was before Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear and before UConn star Paige Bueckers went absolutely berserk, scoring 40 in the Sweet 16.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
And while the legal penalties for the two are wildly different, the results behind the wheel are often just as dangerous.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Nashville broke a three-way traffic jam on Saturday via a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks and the Kings prevailed in a wildly unpredictable, and at times unprofessional, match against Toronto, 7-6 in overtime.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Iran has pledged to retaliate against such facilities in Israel, meaning the entire Middle East may be on the brink of cataclysmic doom — with or without the terrifying prospect of nuclear strikes.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The war is also likely to harden the regime’s resolve to obtain a nuclear weapon, experts say.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The Edge Spa, perched on the side of a precipice overlooking Alexander Creek, showcases ingredients grown or wild-harvested on site.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Most of the region's black walnuts are currently wild-foraged and sold by the pound at local hulling centers.—
Randy Moll,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bones is a pretty stellar action heroine, if only for her rah-rah speeches and her maniacal laughter in the face of men who seek to control her.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Even when discussing this premise, his maniacal desire to win seeps through.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s when Jack discovers the tin full of custom drugs that were left in their room by the demented chemistry major who used to live there (the reliably hilarious Sarah Sherman, appearing in a step-by-step YouTube tutorial about surviving the pills her character invented).—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This releases chlorine atoms — like a microscopic, demented Pac-Man, a single one can devour more than 100,000 ozone molecules.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amok.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amok. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
