rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈra-bəd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
also
ˈrā- How to pronounce rabid (audio)
Synonyms of rabid
1
a
: extremely violent : furious
b
: going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion
rabid editorials
a rabid supporter
2
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog
rabidity
rə-ˈbi-də-tē How to pronounce rabid (audio)
ra-, 
rā-
noun
rabidly
ˈra-bəd-lē How to pronounce rabid (audio)
also ˈrā-
adverb
rabidness noun

Synonyms of rabid

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Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.
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.
On July 26, a 13-year-old boy was bitten by a rabid beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park's William Houck area near the North Beach of the lake. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Last year, the department’s staff located 8 rabid bats in Alameda County. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 Two men, born 40 years apart nearly to the day, growing up in the same part of the country, both inspiring rabid fans while trying to keep a low profile. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026 The history, the rabid fans, and of course, this particular group led by Brunson winning the first title in 53 years, has electrified the city more than the Nets have. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rabid

Word History

Etymology

Latin rabidus mad, from rabere

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rabid was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

rabic
rabid
rabies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rabid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabid. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid ˈrab-əd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
also ˈrā-bəd
1
: extremely violent : furious
2
: going to extreme lengths (as in interest or opinion)
rabid supporters
3
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog
rabidly adverb

Medical Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid
ˈrab-əd also ˈrā-bəd
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog

More from Merriam-Webster on rabid

Nglish: Translation of rabid for Spanish Speakers

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