Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Frenzied, wildly irrational, or violently out of control: Describes a state of extreme, uncontrollable rage or excitement, often likened to a madness.
   • In a state of violent or destructive frenzy: Used to characterize behavior that is chaotic, savage, and unrestrained.

2. Noun:

   • A legendary Norse warrior who fought with a frenzied, trance-like fury: Refers to a historical figure from Norse sagas known for entering a battle frenzy, often attributed to a spiritual or berserker rage.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • After hearing the news, he went berserk and started throwing things.
  • The crowd went berserk when their team scored the winning goal.

• Noun:

  • The sagas tell of a berserk who could not feel pain in battle.
  • He fought like a berserk, with no regard for his own safety.

Advanced Usage

• "to go berserk": This is the most common phrasal construction, meaning to suddenly become extremely angry or out of control.
  • The teacher will go berserk if he sees this mess.
• "berserk rage": A compound noun phrase describing a specific type of intense, uncontrollable anger.
  • He was consumed by a berserk rage.

Variants and Related Words

• Berserker (noun): A more common modern synonym for the noun form, specifically denoting the Norse warrior or, by extension, a person behaving with frenzied violence.
  • The video game character is modeled after a Viking berserker.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Amok, frenzied, crazed, maniacal, furious, wild, deranged.
• Noun: Fanatic, fury, madman (context-specific).

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Run amok/amuck": A phrase with a very similar meaning to "go berserk," describing behaving violently and uncontrollably.
  • The rioters ran amok through the streets.
• "Fly into a rage/frenzy": To suddenly become very angry, a less intense synonym.
  • She flew into a rage at the suggestion.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The adjective is by far the most common usage in modern English, almost always describing a temporary state of extreme emotional outburst.
• The noun form is historical/literary and is less frequently used in everyday conversation. It often appears in contexts discussing history, mythology, or fantasy.

Adjective

1. frenzied as if possessed by a demon
   • the soldier was completely amuck
   • berserk with grief
   • a berserk worker smashing windows

Noun

1. one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury