Agency Dictionary
Frenzy
nounPronunciation: /ˈfrɛn.zi/
In Portuguese: Frenesi
Psychology & MindWhat does “Frenzy” mean?
A state of wild excitement, intense emotional agitation, or uncontrolled, energetic activity.
Etymology
From Middle English frenesie and frensy, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, a late form answering to Greek phrenitis, "inflammation of the brain", from phren, "mind". The word was first a medical name for delirium and madness. The sense weakened to wild excitement and then to a burst of hurried activity, as in a buying frenzy. Frantic and frenetic come from the same Greek source.
Usage note
Common in set phrases with a noun before it: feeding frenzy, media frenzy, buying frenzy. The plural is frenzies.
Synonyms
- furor
- fever
- mania
- delirium
- turmoil
- hysteria
Word family
- frenzied
- frenziedly
- frenetic
- frantic
Usage examples
My artistic references always exude a vibrant and often chaotic energy, filled with frenzy, joy, and contagion.
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Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
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