rabid

adjective

ra·​bid ˈra-bəd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
also
ˈrā- How to pronounce rabid (audio)
1
a
: extremely violent : furious
b
: going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion
rabid editorials
a rabid supporter
2
: affected with rabies
rabidity noun
rabidly
ˈra-bəd-lē How to pronounce rabid (audio)
 also  ˈrā-
adverb
rabidness noun

Examples of rabid in a Sentence

a politician with rabid supporters Her husband is a rabid baseball fan.
Recent Examples on the Web Spanish-language giant TelevisaUnivision is the latest TV company trying to turn its viewers into rabid shoppers. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024 TikTok has mobilized its rabid usership to try to turn public opinion against the bill. Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024 To some, like Cassy Simmons, who drove to the listening party from San Diego Saturday morning, the group’s love for Swift is no different than rabid sports fans’ enthusiasm for their favorite teams. Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024 Weir, though, is the real prize here, a pint-sized marvel who is able to switch in a millisecond from sweet and innocent child to a rabid bloodsucker. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024 In the early 1990s, Jim White was a drumming journeyman, having pounded out rhythms in a string of loud and rabid bands with snotty names, like Feral Dinosaurs or Venom P. Stinger. Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024 And those are just two of the more than 2,500 rabid fans who have converged at the Burbank Marriott on this hazy weekend in March for The Hollywood Show, a two-day gathering of aging TV and (some) film celebrities held thrice a year. Michael Callahan, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024 The last line of cups quickly ended up on Ebay, with rabid fans paying between $150 to over $400 per cup. Chris Morris, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 However, rabid dog bites are the leading cause of human deaths from the virus, according to the center. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rabid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin rabidus mad, from rabere

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rabid was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near rabid

Cite this Entry

“Rabid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabid. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid ˈrab-əd How to pronounce rabid (audio)
 also  ˈrā-bəd
1
: extremely violent : furious
2
: going to extreme lengths (as in interest or opinion)
rabid supporters
3
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog
rabidly adverb

Medical Definition

rabid

adjective
ra·​bid
ˈrab-əd also ˈrā-bəd
: affected with rabies
a rabid dog

More from Merriam-Webster on rabid

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