1
: emotionally out of control
2
: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity
made a frantic search for the lost child
frantic cries for help
3
archaic
: mentally unsound
Synonyms
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
As many in the party question whether Biden should remain their nominee, much of the frantic conversations have circled on whether Harris could do better at the top of the ticket.
—
Brian Bennett, TIME, 2 July 2024
One spur for this policy is, of course, Dobbs—the ruling made women’s bodies, and their access to medical care, a matter of frantic public debate.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 July 2024
The busiest people on a fairly frantic show are arguably lighting designer Howard Hudson and his team who illuminate the action with everything from super-saturated neon-style lines and chase effects to isolating laser shapes and intense washes of turquoise and purple.
—David Benedict, Variety, 30 June 2024
None challenged Currey’s vague claim that the change would save money
Officials in the Lamont administration were unaware of the change making its way through the House and Senate during the frantic final days of the legislative session.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for frantic 
Brian Bennett, TIME, 2 July 2024
One spur for this policy is, of course, Dobbs—the ruling made women’s bodies, and their access to medical care, a matter of frantic public debate.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 July 2024
The busiest people on a fairly frantic show are arguably lighting designer Howard Hudson and his team who illuminate the action with everything from super-saturated neon-style lines and chase effects to isolating laser shapes and intense washes of turquoise and purple.
—David Benedict, Variety, 30 June 2024
None challenged Currey’s vague claim that the change would save money
Officials in the Lamont administration were unaware of the change making its way through the House and Senate during the frantic final days of the legislative session.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for frantic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frantic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near frantic
Cite this Entry
“Frantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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