frenzy

[ fren-zee ]
See synonyms for frenzy on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural fren·zies.
  1. a state of extreme mental agitation or wild excitement: There's something big businesses love about working their customers into a frenzy of anticipation.

  2. a burst of agitated, energetic action or activity: Athens in the late 1960s was in the midst of a building frenzy.

  1. a fit or spell of mental derangement; a paroxysm characteristic of or resulting from a mania: He is subject to these frenzies several times a year.

verb (used with object),fren·zied, fren·zy·ing.
  1. to drive into a frenzy; make frantic: She was frenzied by fear when she smelled the smoke.

Origin of frenzy

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frenesie, from Old French, from Late Latin phrenēsis, from Late Greek, for Greek phrenîtis; see phrenitis

Other words for frenzy

Opposites for frenzy

Other words from frenzy

  • fren·zi·ly, adverb

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

British Dictionary definitions for frenzy

frenzy

/ (ˈfrɛnzɪ) /


nounplural -zies
  1. violent mental derangement

  2. wild excitement or agitation; distraction

  1. a bout of wild or agitated activity: a frenzy of preparations

verb-zies, -zying or -zied
  1. (tr) to make frantic; drive into a frenzy

Origin of frenzy

1
C14: from Old French frenesie, from Late Latin phrēnēsis madness, delirium, from Late Greek, ultimately from Greek phrēn mind; compare frenetic

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