What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hectic
Example
The office was always hectic during the holiday season. [hectic: adjective]
Example
She had a hectic schedule with back-to-back meetings all day. [hectic: noun]
frantic
Example
The mother was frantic when she couldn't find her child in the park. [frantic: adjective]
Example
He searched frantically for his lost keys before realizing they were in his pocket. [frantically: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hectic is more commonly used than frantic in everyday language. Hectic is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while frantic is more specific and often used in situations of panic or desperation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hectic and frantic?
Both hectic and frantic are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
