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feverishly

feverishly

13 5.1
In a way that shows very fast, nervous energy because of strong excitement or worry
  • adverb
  • /ˈfiːvərɪʃli/
translation icon : frenéticamente
  • She studied feverishly for her final exams, determined to achieve top grades.
  • worked feverishly
  • wrote feverishly

And China is working feverishly to censor people talking about it, as we talked about last week.

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Examples

  • We're live Down Below with our nine finalists feverishly awaiting the results.

  • The team worked feverishly to finish the project before the deadline.

  • After all, the "best minds in the world" were feverishly working on these projects during the Cold War.

    Academic text (2010)
  • AI is feverishly being developed by China, the US, Japan, Germany, and the UK, just to name the leaders.

  • On the way downstairs, I feverishly went over the things I was going to tell Linda.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Which is why scientists at Argonne and around the world are working feverishly to develop what comes next.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Paramedics worked feverishly to save the life of Richard Cho.

  • William sits on the backstage steps, writing feverishly in his notebook.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Phoebe had been up all night, feverishly plotting the moves for Jazz's immediate future.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Rescue workers work feverishly with jaws of life to get into the mangled wreckage.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

wildly
vsfeverishly
104 2.9

In a way that is not controlled and shows strong feeling

is more restless and driven by a feverish inner state
passionately
vsfeverishly
66 2.8

In a way that shows very strong feelings and great excitement

is more feverish and urgent rather than sustained feeling
enthusiastically
vsfeverishly
37 3.5

In a way that shows strong interest and excitement

is more frenzied and physically restless than eager approval
excitedly
vsfeverishly
27 1.0

In a happy, eager way that shows strong interest

is more agitated and fever-like than straightforward excitement
fervently
vsfeverishly
19 5.4

In a way that shows strong belief or feeling

is more agitated and fever-driven than steady passion
maniacally
vsfeverishly
8 7.9

In a very wild and excited way without control

is comparably extreme but suggests physical agitation and fever
energetically
vsfeverishly
8 3.0

In a lively and eager way

is more frantic and unsettled than merely energetic
ardently
vsfeverishly
7 4.9

In a way that shows strong feeling and great enthusiasm

is more agitated and fever-like than steady devotion
deliriously
vsfeverishly
5 6.3

With extreme joy and excitement that feels wild

is similar in intensity but has a restless, fevered edge
zealously
vsfeverishly
5 5.4

Doing something with great energy and strong interest

is more restless and driven by inner agitation than committed zeal
manically
vsfeverishly
2 7.2

With very high energy and little control

is more like intense, restless energy as if physically unwell
frenetically
vsfeverishly
1 7.0

Very quickly and in a worried or excited way

is similarly intense but suggests a sickly, fevered urgency
exuberantly
vsfeverishly
1 5.1

In a lively, excited way

is similar but darker and more intensely agitated
effusively
vsfeverishly
1 7.4

In a very warm and emotional way that shows strong feeling

is similarly excessive but has a feverish, uneasy quality
rapturously
vsfeverishly
1 7.4

Showing great pleasure and excitement

is more agitated and restless rather than purely joyful
ebulliently
vsfeverishly
1 7.7

In a lively, cheerful way that shows clear happiness

is more restless and tense than simple exuberance
zestily
vsfeverishly
1 5.3

In a lively and excited way

is more frantic and uneasy than simply lively energy
ravingly
vsfeverishly
  • Informal
9.7

In a very excited and wild way

is equally frenzied but feels more feverish and restless
raving
vsfeverishly
  • Informal
8.1

In a very wild and angry way

is similar but carries a tense, fever-like quality
frenziedly
vsfeverishly
7.5

In a wild, panicked way

is equally agitated but with an ill, fevered intensity
hectically
vsfeverishly
5.5

Doing many things quickly because there is little time

is like that but conveys a more feverish urgency
fervidly
vsfeverishly
8.2

With strong, excited feeling for something

is more frenzied and physically restless than plain passion
fierily
vsfeverishly
7.4

In a way that shows strong feeling and energy

is more agitated and fever-like than steady devotion

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

Slowly and without energy

How Excited

frantically
59 4.4
feverishly
13 5.1
busily
12 1.0
steadily
129 2.1
calmly
110 1.0

Surface Forms

feverishly positive
feverishlyer comparative
feverishlyest superlative

Morphology

feverishly = feverish (semi-transparent) = fever + ish + ly

The adverb 'feverishly' is transparently derived from the adjective 'feverish' with the addition of the suffix '-ly'.

Etymology

Feverishly comes from fever meaning 'a very high body temperature' and the endings -ish and -ly that turn it into an adverb. So, because someone with a fever moves with hot, nervous energy, to do something feverishly is to do it with intense, hurried excitement.