phrenetic
/fri'netik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion: Describes a state of extreme, uncontrolled excitement, panic, or frenzy.
- Frantic; wildly energetic or fast-paced in a chaotic or disorganized manner: Often used to describe actions, activity, or behavior that is frantic and hurried.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The phrenetic crowd surged toward the exits after the alarm sounded.
- Her work schedule was so phrenetic that she had no time to relax.
- He made a phrenetic search for his lost keys.
Advanced Usage
- "phrenetic pace": Describes a speed or rate of activity that is frantic and unsustainable.
- The city lives at a phrenetic pace.
- "phrenetic energy": Refers to a wild, chaotic, and intense level of activity or force.
- The drummer attacked his kit with phrenetic energy.
Variants and Related Words
- Frenetic (adj): This is the standard and far more common modern spelling of "phrenetic." The meanings are identical.
- The office was a scene of frenetic activity before the deadline.
- Frenzied (adj): Wildly excited or uncontrolled.
- The frenzied shoppers scrambled for the last items on sale.
Synonyms
- Frantic: Desperate or wild with excitement, passion, fear, or pain.
- Feverish: Characterized by intense activity, agitation, or excitement.
- Hectic: Full of incessant or frantic activity.
- Manic: Showing wild, apparently deranged, excitement and energy.
Notes on Usage
- "Phrenetic" is an archaic or less common variant of the modern word "frenetic." In contemporary English, "frenetic" is the preferred and almost universally used spelling. The core meaning of wild, frantic, or chaotic activity remains the same.
- It is typically used as an adjective to modify nouns like , , , , or .
Adjective
- excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
- frantic with anger and frustration
- frenetic screams followed the accident
- a frenzied look in his eye