frə̇ˈned.ik, -etik adjective
Etymology: Middle English frenetik insane, from Middle French frenetique, from Latin phreneticus, modification of Greek phrenitikos, from phrenitis inflammation of the brain (from phren-, phrēn mind + -itis ) + -ikos -ic; akin to Old Norse grunr suspicion
1.
a. : frenzied , frantic , hectic
a frenetic but unsuccessful attempt to beat a deadline
a woman who let out frenetic screams after a car accident
the frenetic bustle on the stock-market floor following a sharp decline in stocks
b. : wild and excited
a noisy frenetic celebration
frenetic cheering
2. : tense and marked by a tendency to overexcitement
a thin frenetic woman — C.O.Gorham
• fre·net·i·cal·ly -ə̇k(ə)lē, -ēk-, -li adverb