I. ˈfrantik, -raan-, -tēk adjective
Etymology: Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantik — more at frenetic
1.
a. archaic : mentally deranged : delirious , insane , mad
sorrows, and grief of heart, makes him speak … like a frantic man — Shakespeare
b. : almost mentally deranged : nearly mad
at the beach outside Venice they drove the caretaker frantic by demanding, one after the other, an adequately large bathing suit — Robert Berkelman
c. : emotionally out of control : overwhelmed with feeling to the point of wildness : frenzied
frantic with anger and frustration
2.
a. : marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity
this almost frantic search for new writers — J.T.Farrell
the most frantic dancers in the world — Wolcott Gibbs
did a tumbling act, spinning across the stage in a series of frantic cartwheels as though she were made of springs — Winifred Bambrick
tornadoes and frantic thunderstorms — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
there was something desperate and frantic in this gaiety — B.A.Williams
: wild or out of control especially with fear and anxiety
after longer periods without water they sometimes become frantic — American Guide Series: Arizona
clasping me in desperation like a person frantic with drowning — R.P.Warren
destroyed the bridges … in spite of frantic protests from the townspeople — American Guide Series: Tennessee
b. : noisy or active in an uncontrolled way
frantic applause at the end of the opera
the batsman, making a frantic attempt to cover himself — Dorothy Sayers
3. of an emotion : intense to the point of hysteria
frantic fear and fanatical hatred — M.R.Cohen
a child, playing on a damp beach, suddenly finds he can repeat, over and over, the imprint of his hand … will do this, then, in frantic joy — Roger Burlingame
4. : of or befitting one that is frantic
the forest seemed a vast hive of men buzzing about in frantic circles — Stephen Crane
protests with frantic words and gestures that he has only desired peace — Sir Winston Churchill
our frantic zeal to extend the frontiers of knowledge — E.S.McCartney
the frantic beat of hoofs down the road — T.B.Costain
5. : very great : extreme
in a frantic hurry to get home
• fran·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -tēk-, -li adverb
• fran·tic·ly adverb
• fran·tic·ness noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantik, from frenetik, frentik, frantik, adjective
archaic : lunatic