Antonyms for hectic


Grammar : Adj
Spell : hek-tik
Phonetic Transcription : ˈhɛk tɪk


Definition of hectic

Origin :
  • late 14c., etik (in fever etik), from Old French etique "consumptive," from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos "continuous, habitual, consumptive" (of a disease, because of the constant fever), from hexis "a habit (of mind or body)," from ekhein "have, hold, continue" (see scheme).
  • The Latin -h- was restored in English 16c. Sense of "feverishly exciting, full of disorganized activity" first recorded 1904, but hectic also was used in Middle English as a noun meaning "feverish desire, consuming passion" (early 15c.). Hectic fevers are characterized by rapid pulse, among other symptoms. Related: Hecticness.
  • adj frantic, turbulent
Example sentences :
  • His cheeks were hollow and hectic, his eyes were glistening as with fever, his chest heaved.
  • Extract from : « The Channings » by Mrs. Henry Wood
  • Not strong, sir—he has a hectic colour—as I was very sorry to see.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • The nervous, hectic state of the journalists made him feel nervous too.
  • Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine
  • As for Kendrick, it was the busiest, most hectic morning he had ever experienced.
  • Extract from : « Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930 » by Various
  • His pale cheeks were lit by a hectic flush of intense feeling.
  • Extract from : « The Twins of Suffering Creek » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • Now they were flushed and hectic with a suggestion of the inward fire that lit her eyes.
  • Extract from : « The Golden Woman » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • We've had to hustle, but I reckon we've given them a hectic time of it.
  • Extract from : « The Pirate of Panama » by William MacLeod Raine
  • Things were hectic already, less than four months after we'd started.
  • Extract from : « Question of Comfort » by Les Collins
  • His colour was hectic and gaudy; and in composition he possessed little skill.
  • Extract from : « Art in England » by Dutton Cook
  • The two lone revellers remain at the pier-table, moody and hectic.
  • Extract from : « An Outcast » by F. Colburn Adams

Synonyms for hectic

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019