frenzy

1 of 2

noun

fren·​zy ˈfren-zē How to pronounce frenzy (audio)
plural frenzies
Synonyms of frenzy
1
a
: a temporary madness
in a rage amounting to a frenzy
b
: a violent mental or emotional agitation
… almost weeping in a frenzy of anxiety …—Colleen McCullough
2
: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity
a shopping frenzy
… the mob chanted itself into a frenzy …—C. Carr

frenzy

2 of 2

verb

frenzied; frenzying

transitive verb

: to affect with frenzy

Synonyms of frenzy

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of frenzy in a Sentence

Noun the buying frenzy just before Christmas in its frenzy to flee the danger, the crowd became uncontrollable, and a number of people were trampled to death Verb local football fans who were frenzied by the fact that their team was going to the Super Bowl
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The frenzy followed Beijing’s decision in the mid-1980s to ban imports of almost all blood products – except human albumin – amid growing fears over the global HIV/AIDS crisis. — Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 Preece instead has embraced the frenzy of racing around his roots as a rallying point for his last-ditch charge at the Chase. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 A couple days ago, as the media frenzy continued, Wolff decided to release full letters that Harp had sent to Trump during his last Presidential campaign, missives that had reportedly alarmed the Secret Service. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 Built to power the generative artificial intelligence boom and cryptocurrency frenzy, these industrial developments can use as much energy as some cities and consume millions of gallons of fresh water daily. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frenzy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English frenesie, franesie, frensy, fransy "insanity, delirium, fit of madness," borrowed from Anglo-French frenesie, frensye, borrowed from Medieval Latin phrenēsia, re-formation of Late Latin phrenēsis "inflammation of the brain, madness," derivative (by analogy with other Greek nouns in -ēsis with corresponding adjectives in -ētikos) of Latin phrenēticus "suffering from madness" — more at frenetic

Verb

derivative of frenzy entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frenzy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing frenzy

Browse Nearby Words

frenzied
frenzy
Freon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frenzy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frenzy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

frenzy

noun
fren·​zy
ˈfren-zē
plural frenzies
: great and often wild or disorderly activity

Medical Definition

frenzy

noun
fren·​zy ˈfren-zē How to pronounce frenzy (audio)
plural frenzies
1
a
: a temporary madness
b
: a violent mental or emotional agitation
2
: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity
frenzied
-zēd How to pronounce frenzy (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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