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

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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 person who sent the locker room into a frenzy wasn’t Beamer or star quarterback LaNorris Sellers. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Author Arundhati Roy even pulled out of the festival in protest, and festival director Tricia Tuttle had to put out a statement in response to the frenzy. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026 News that Adele won the show was announced on Monday, and two days later, the full cast of celebrities and pros was revealed, sending the Dancing fandom into a frenzy. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 So when Trader Joe’s dropped a similar formula at a fraction of the cost, skincare enthusiasts went into a bit of a frenzy. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 4 Sep. 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 7 Sep. 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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