hectic

[ hek-tik ]
See synonyms for: hectichectically on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.: The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting.

Origin of hectic

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikós “habitual, consumptive,” adjective derivative of héxis “possession, state, habit,” equivalent to hech- (base of échein “to have, hold, keep”) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English etyk, from Middle French

Other words for hectic

Other words from hectic

  • hec·ti·cal·ly, hec·tic·ly, adverb
  • hec·tic·ness, noun
  • non·hec·tic, adjective
  • non·hec·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·hec·tic, adjective
  • un·hec·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hectic in a sentence

  • Her eyes shone hectically bright and strangely alluring to the detective.

    Whispering Wires | Henry Leverage
  • "There is certainly something very strange about all this," he whispered a bit hectically.

    Peace on Earth, Good-will to Dogs | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
  • Eyes that met when commands were given and received were dull from want of sleep or hectically bright as a hypochondriac's.

    The Last Shot | Frederick Palmer
  • As Sagner turned back to me, and we passed on out of hearing, I noted two red spots flaming hectically in his cheeks.

    The Sick-a-Bed Lady | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
  • She did not lean hectically over the rail and talk rapidly from the outside as did the young men reporters.

    The Girl Scout's Triumph | Katherine Keene Galt

British Dictionary definitions for hectic

hectic

/ (ˈhɛktɪk) /


adjective
  1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement

  2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush)

noun
  1. a hectic fever or flush

  2. rare a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush

Origin of hectic

1
C14: from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos habitual, from hexis state, from ekhein to have

Derived forms of hectic

  • hectically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012