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Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example. Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
Synonyms
Examples of hectic in a Sentence
Sonal Dutt, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Taking time off to hit the links at Trump National Doral in Miami, Trump finds himself at the center of criticism due to his hectic schedule packed with executive orders.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Inside the offices in Chavez Ravine, however, team officials view the moves not so much as a way to lap the competition, but rather as requisite insurance for a team trying to avoid a repeat of its hectic deadline dealings.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
When hectic images out of the Kabul airport surfaced, Americans at home could see how chaotic the troop removal was.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hectic 
Dictionary Entries Near hectic
Cite this Entry
“Hectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hectic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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hectic
adjective
Medical Definition
hectic
adjective
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