desperate or wild with excitement, passion, fear, pain, etc.; frenzied.
Archaic. insane; mad.
Origin of frantic
1325–75; Middle English frantik, frenetik, phrentique (the spelling with a appears in the 14th century but is unexplained), from Old French frenetique (French frénétique ), from Latin phrenēticus, phrenīticus “mad, delirious,” from Greek phrenētikós, phrenītikós “suffering from phrenitis. ” See frenzy, -tic
Lawmakers file so many bills during the frantic sessions, rushing from hearing room to hearing room, that they often leave special interests to hammer out the details.
Inside the Utility Company Lobbying Blitz That Will Hike Electric Bills|by Patrick Wilson, Richmond Times-Dispatch|October 9, 2020|ProPublica
I felt slightly frantic, knowing that, in the early pandemic period, every minute spent together in the house brought greater risk.
The Students Left Behind by Remote Learning|by Alec MacGillis|September 28, 2020|ProPublica
Cork boards keep everything in easy view, eliminating annoying paper piles and frantic searching for necessary items.
Cork boards for organizing your home or office|PopSci Commerce Team|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
As frantic work continues to find a vaccine, countries like Nigeria continue to do all they can to curb the spread of the virus.
Nigerian scientists have identified seven lineages of SARS-CoV-2|Christian Happi|September 7, 2020|Quartz
Some places seem to be getting into phase two-and-a-half, with the most frantic shopping starting to subside.
What Happens When Everyone Stays Home to Eat? (Ep. 412)|Stephen J. Dubner|April 9, 2020|Freakonomics
A phone call, a frantic trip, an abrupt change of holiday plans.
Knocking on Heaven's Door: True Stories of Unexplained, Uncanny Experiences at the Hour of Death|Patricia Pearson|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Considering the adventure Bernstein was about to embark on, the frantic atmosphere was kind of fitting.
The Aftermath of Disney’s ‘Million Dollar Arm’|Alex Suskind|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She placidly tells people she is dreaming until her frantic father finds her again and loses his temper.
Diagnosing Jane, Louis C.K.’s Troubled Daughter on ‘Louie’ Who Can’t Separate Dreams From Reality|Russell Saunders|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was frantic back when 12 dailies hit the New York streets with half a dozen editions each.
The Stacks: Harold Conrad Was Many Things, But He Was Never, Ever Dull|Mark Jacobson|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The government said the 1961 World Championships were friendly, but the crowd of twenty thousand Chinese was frantic for victory.
How to Hide a Famine with Ping-Pong|Nicholas Griffin|January 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mamma has been frantic with Mr. Glascock because he has been going to marry,—whom shall I say,—her edition of you.
He Knew He Was Right|Anthony Trollope
He took good care not to let the flames shoot up, so that the frantic girl would inhale them.
Andy at Yale|Roy Eliot Stokes
From this moment on he would be frantic for fear of losing it.
Operation: Outer Space|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
This gentleman thinks he would like it, and Anna is frantic to see the boys.
The Story Of Julia Page|Kathleen Norris
After a frantic effort, I caught two words—‘Land,’ ‘America’—with positively no clue to their meaning.
True Ghost Stories|Hereward Carrington
British Dictionary definitions for frantic
frantic
/ (ˈfræntɪk) /
adjective
distracted with fear, pain, joy, etc
marked by or showing frenzyfrantic efforts
archaicinsane
Derived forms of frantic
franticallyorfranticly, adverbfranticness, noun
Word Origin for frantic
C14: from Old French frenetique, from Latin phrenēticus mad, frenetic