frantic

/ˈfræntɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfræntɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfran-tik/ (ame, mw)

frantic — adjective

  • franticpositive
  • more franticcomparative
  • most franticsuperlative

1. feeling such extreme worry, fear, or panic that you cannot control your emotions

1.形容詞B2
釋義

feeling such extreme worry, fear, or panic that you cannot control your emotions or think clearly

例句

Gabriela was frantic with worry when her son did not come home from school.

frantic with + emotion noun

The frantic mother called every hospital in the city looking for her missing child.

attributive use: frantic + person noun

同義詞
  • panicked

    focuses on sudden fear rather than sustained worry

  • hysterical

    stronger, implies crying or screaming and loss of self-control

  • distraught

    suggests deep upset or sadness mixed with confusion, not necessarily fear

反義詞
  • calm

    opposite emotional state — relaxed, in control

  • composed

    implies deliberate self-control under pressure

文法句型

be + frantic

frantic + with + [emotion]

用法筆記

Frequently paired with 'with' followed by an emotion noun to indicate the cause of the panic, e.g. 'frantic with worry' or 'frantic with fear'.

常見錯誤

❌She was frantic about losing her phone.
✅She was frantic with worry about losing her phone.
💡'frantic' is followed by 'with' plus an emotion, not directly by 'about' plus a situation.

2. performed or organized with great hurry and urgency, often resulting in disorder

2.形容詞B2
釋義

performed or organized with great hurry and urgency, often resulting in disorder because there is not enough time

例句

The team made frantic preparations before the CEO arrived for a visit.

frantic + activity noun (preparations)

Maja sent a series of frantic emails trying to fix the booking error.

同義詞
  • hectic

    describes a situation full of activity and confusion, not the activity itself

  • frenzied

    very similar in meaning but slightly more intense and less common

  • chaotic

    focuses on the disorder and lack of organization rather than the hurry

反義詞
  • leisurely

    done without hurry, at a relaxed pace

  • organized

    planned and orderly, the opposite of chaotic activity

文法句型

frantic + [activity noun]

at a + frantic + pace / rate

用法筆記

Commonly modifies nouns describing actions or efforts — 'search', 'rush', 'preparations', 'activity', 'pace'. Does not describe a person's emotional state; for emotional panic use sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌She was frantic when she cleaned the house.
✅She made a frantic effort to clean the house before the guests arrived.
💡Sense 2 describes the activity as hurried, not the person's emotional state.