NYT Dictionary

FRANTIC

/ˈfɹæn.tɪk/
AdjectiveNounFRAN-ticfran-tic · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2025

Meaning

Insane, mentally unstable.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English frantike, frentik, variant of frenetik, from Old French frenetique, from Late Latin phreneticus, alteration of phreniticus, from φρενιτικός (phrenitikós, “mad, suffering from inflammation of the brain”), from φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”), from φρήν (phrḗn, “the brain”). Doublet of frenetic and phrenitic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

tearingmadfreneticfrenziedphreneticdeliriousexcitedunrestrainedabandonedamok

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram:

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