variants
or amuck
as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
returned to the classroom to find an escaped snake and her students running amok
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or amuck
as in berserk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amok
Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the rumor mill has run amok regarding who will take up the agent’s gun next.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Adverb
Video bloggers amok After seven years in another Oakland Park home, the couple is itching to travel again — but without the headaches of traffic and shopping.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the rumor mill has run amok regarding who will take up the agent’s gun next.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Wyatt Russell has been terrific as this avatar of male insecurity run wildly amok, but the script isn’t always doing him favors.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for amok
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amok
Adverb
-
Workers at the plant tried frantically to contain the damage, by, for example, spraying seawater from fire hoses and rigging up car batteries to supply power.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
His hands, ordinarily trapped in the pockets of his tracksuit when not frantically presenting tactical instructions or wagging a finger at opposition benches, escaped midway through the second half of his side’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion to savour the moment with the Palace supporters.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But that was before Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear and before UConn star Paige Bueckers went absolutely berserk, scoring 40 in the Sweet 16.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The dissolve to a commercial break a moment later was silent, with no applause; the discourse the following week was predictably berserk.—
Vulture Staff,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
All of it wild-caught.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
orlandosentinel.com,
14 Aug. 2020
-
Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street.—
Paul A. Smith,
Journal Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
And yet our maniac coach is playing everyone too many minutes, including the injury prone players.—
James L. Edwards III,
The Athletic,
14 Jan. 2025
-
At first glance, Torres’ debut film seems like a quirky, millennial visual feast about a desperate El Salvadorian and a maniac artist.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
14 Mar. 2024
Adverb
-
As the game devolved into something rare and magical, Dallas’ inability to get out of their zone cleanly and wrest some manner of control of the proceedings was wildly apparent.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
In fact, the state's wildly diverse geographies are part of the reason why the film industry moved to Southern California at the turn of the last century.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Here, a young fisherman washes up on a mysterious island, only to be captured by a deranged captain who is hunted by a dark hungry beast.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2023
-
Monday’s murder of six people, including three 9-year-olds, by a deranged attacker at a Christian primary school in Nashville is another sign of mental illness unleashed.—
The Editorial Board,
WSJ,
29 Mar. 2023
Adjective
-
Even if Trump followed through with bombing, there is no strictly military solution to the Iranian nuclear program anymore.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
That deal, negotiated by the Obama administration, put curbs on Iran's nuclear program.—
Time,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Amok.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amok. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share