frenzy

[fren-zee]

noun

plural

frenzies 

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.

   Antonyms: calm

2. a burst of agitated, energetic action or activity.

   Athens in the late 1960s was in the midst of a building frenzy.

3. 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.

   Synonyms: raving, fury, rage, aberration, lunacy, insanity, madness
   Antonyms: sanity

verb (used with object)

frenzied, frenzying 

1. to drive into a frenzy; make frantic.

   She was frenzied by fear when she smelled the smoke.

frenzy

/ ˈfrɛnzɪ /

noun

1. violent mental derangement

2. wild excitement or agitation; distraction

3. a bout of wild or agitated activity

   a frenzy of preparations

verb

1. (tr) to make frantic; drive into a frenzy

Other Word Forms

• frenzily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenzy¹

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

Example Sentences

Without new revelations, the public will eventually tire of this story - or it will be buried by a new scandal, conflict or media frenzy.

From BBC

After a series of unfortunate eventsand increasingly violent visitations, a media frenzy surrounds them and the Warrens turn up to rid the house of creepy crawlies.

From Los Angeles Times

Pahler’s murder occurred while the Menendez brothers were on trial, and the grisly killing of a young, white girl provoked a similar level of media frenzy.

From Los Angeles Times

Justin Reich, an associate professor at MIT, said a similar frenzy took place 20 years ago when teachers tried to teach computer literacy.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe not to mainstream culture, for which the engagement represents the next step in a typical media feeding frenzy that’s been building ever since Meghan and Harry’s courtship went public.

From Salon

Related Words

• burst 
• craze 
• excitement 
• fever 
• free-for-all 
• furor 
• fury 
• hysteria 
• madness 
• mania 
• outburst 
• passion 
• rage 
• turmoil