frenzy
n. C / Un. a period of time when people are so excited or upset that they lose control of their actions. It often involves a lot of fast, wild activity.
n. a state of wild excitement or uncontrolled activity. Often describes collective behavior driven by intense emotion or urgent demand.
The sale caused a shopping frenzy at the mall.
The media frenzy surrounding the celebrity's arrival made it impossible for her to leave the airport.
The sudden drop in interest rates sparked a feeding frenzy among potential homebuyers, leading to aggressive bidding wars and record-breaking sales prices.
From Middle English frensy, frenesie, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek φρένησις (phrénēsis), a later equivalent of φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”): see frantic and frenetic. Doublet of phrenesis.
Often used in the phrase 'feeding frenzy' or 'media frenzy'; the plural form 'frenzies' is rare but used for distinct episodes.