frenzy

plural frenzies · alternative phrenzy · alternative phrensy

1. countableuncountableA state of wild activity or panic.

   international media frenzy

   4 more examples

   She went into a cleaning frenzy to prepare for the unexpected guests.

   It is during these frenzies that sharks have been known to bite everything in sight, including other sharks engaged in the same activity.

   1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 170

   At the very end of the Middle Ages, Breughel depicted country folk wrapped up in fits of mass hysteria, and the historical accounts of these rural frenzies have explained the delirium in terms of the slender diet on which the poor had to subsist during the hungry gap.

   1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 102

   The early years of Norman occupation saw a frenzy of castle building.

   1999, Linda Flavell, Roger Flavell, “1066[:] The Normans Begin to Erect Castles”, in dictionary of english down through the ages[:] words & phrases born out of historical events great & small, 2005 edition, London: Kyle Cathie Limited, →ISBN, page 17

2. countableuncountableA violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage.

   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 Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   2 more examples

   All else is towering frenzy and distraction.

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 18

   He proffered a pact to Satan, calling upon the Fiend and working himself into a frenzy - but his infernal majesty failed to respond.

   1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 119

comparative more frenzy · superlative most frenzy · alternative phrenzy · alternative phrensy

1. obsoleteMad; frantic.

   They thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head.

   1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

present singular third person frenzies · participle present frenzying · participle past frenzied · past frenzied · alternative phrenzy · alternative phrensy

1. uncommonTo render frantic.

   Both goaded on to strife by frenzying hate.

   1833, James Anthony Froude, Fraser's Magazine - Volume 7, page 456

   1 more example

   Then there is the absorbing, not to say frenzying, interest, which attends our important elections.

   1865, Gerrit Smith, Speeches and Letters of Gerrit Smith, page 14

2. rareTo exhibit a frenzy, such as a feeding frenzy.

   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