frenzy means mad; frantic. It carries an Arena rating of 1574, earned across 16 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, frenzy ranks #376 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,197 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #1,374 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #1,666 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
frenzy is pronounced /ˈfɹɛnzi/.
Why “frenzy” is a great word
A state of wild excitement or uncontrolled activity, often approaching madness. From Middle English frensy, frenesie, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, 'inflammation of the brain'). Unlike rage, which burns with focused fury, or agitation, a restless stirring beneath the skin, frenzy is the total eclipse of reason by chaotic intensity, the mind unmoored. It is the market pit in a crash, a swarm of insects battering a lamp, the final, mindless thrashing of a netted fish—the terrible freedom of having no choice but to continue.
Etymology
From Middle English frensy, frenesie, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek *φρένησις (*phrénēsis), a later equivalent of φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”): see frantic and frenetic. Doublet of phrenesis.
adj
- Mad; frantic.e.g.“They thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head.” — 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress:
noun
- A state of wild activity or panic.e.g.“international media frenzy”
- A violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage.e.g.“The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling.” — c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Fol
verb
- To render frantic.e.g.“Both goaded on to strife by frenzying hate.” — 1833, James Anthony Froude, Fraser's Magazine - Volume 7, page 456:
- To exhibit a frenzy, such as a feeding frenzy.e.g.“The fresh smell of salt air, the sound of the crashing swell, the soothing immersion in the water, the sight of dolphins playing and fish frenzying beneath my board.” — 2009, Louise Southerden, Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing, →ISBN:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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