amok
noun
\ ə-ˈmək
, -ˈmäk
\
, -ˈmäk
\
variants:
or less commonly amuck \ ə-ˈmək \
Definition of amok
(Entry 1 of 3)
: an episode of sudden mass assault against people or objects usually by a single individual following a period of brooding that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior occurring worldwide in numerous countries and cultures
amok
adverb
variants:
or less commonly amuck
Definition of amok (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: in a violently raging, wild, or uncontrolled manner
—used in the phrase run amok rioters running amok in the streetsConditions had allowed extremism to run amok.
2
: in a murderously frenzied state
amok
adjective
variants:
or less commonly amuck
Definition of amok (Entry 3 of 3)
: possessed with or motivated by a murderous or violently uncontrollable frenzy
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Synonyms for amok
Synonyms: Adverb
berserk, berserkly, frantically, frenetically, frenziedly, harum-scarum, hectically, helter-skelter, madly, pell-mell, wild, wildly
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Examples of amok in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Metu’s time running amok for the Spurs at Summer League appears done. — Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Metu’s misfortune means missed opportunity for Spurs’ second-rounder," 12 July 2018 Determining whether my emotions are realistic or a sign of my mind running amok helps me respond appropriately. — Meryl Davids Landau, Good Housekeeping, "3 Women Share the Moment They Knew They Had Depression — And How They Moved Forward," 12 June 2018 Elsewhere around the country, run-amok tax-cutting for the wealthy business elite — in other state capitals and most recently in Washington — have benefited hedge-fund managers and the barons of private equity. — Will Bunch, Philly.com, "Stephen Schwarzman's billionaire lottery won't save public schools. But Oklahoma might | Will Bunch," 8 Apr. 2018 Metu’s time running amok for the Spurs at Summer League appears done. — Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Metu’s misfortune means missed opportunity for Spurs’ second-rounder," 12 July 2018 Determining whether my emotions are realistic or a sign of my mind running amok helps me respond appropriately. — Meryl Davids Landau, Good Housekeeping, "3 Women Share the Moment They Knew They Had Depression — And How They Moved Forward," 12 June 2018 Elsewhere around the country, run-amok tax-cutting for the wealthy business elite — in other state capitals and most recently in Washington — have benefited hedge-fund managers and the barons of private equity. — Will Bunch, Philly.com, "Stephen Schwarzman's billionaire lottery won't save public schools. But Oklahoma might | Will Bunch," 8 Apr. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
The Crime Became the Basis of Film and Songs The crime resonated in pop culture, fitting into a narrative about an era popularly defined by excess and entitlement run amok. — Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, "Everything to Know About 'Preppy Murder' Case 33 Years After N.Y.C. Teen's Death in Central Park," 26 Aug. 2019 Nor is there any mention of reducing CEO compensation, which is Exhibit A for many people when discussing executive greed run amok. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: CEOs say they care about customers and workers. Propaganda experts are unimpressed," 21 Aug. 2019 As a result, several busy intersections and thoroughfares were left to run amok, these highly visible areas becoming unkempt eyesores as the grass grew thigh high. — Sherri Leimkuhler, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Sherri Leimkuhler: A row over the need to mow," 17 Aug. 2019 The result was a new strain of Varroa—defined as the new destructor species in 2000—which ran amok. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Breeders toughen up bees to resist deadly mites," 25 July 2019 Anger has only swelled since Sunday’s melee, when police were accused of looking the other way as criminal syndicates ran amok. — Laignee Barron / Hong Kong, Time, "Suspected 'Triad' Gangs Mark Dangerous New Phase in Hong Kong's Crisis," 23 July 2019 One group, generally older, is nervous about technology, specifically getting conked in the head by a power tailgate run amok. — Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Drivers will love these odd features on the 2020 Hyundai Palisade," 20 July 2019 Operation Avalanche takes a playful run at those theories, managing to be both a funny thriller and a quiet commentary on an age of skepticism and conspiracy theories run amok. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "9 terrific movies about landing on the moon, from the sublime to the ridiculous," 17 July 2019 But for many, regardless of the family’s decision, the orchard has become a symbol of the ways that development in Los Angeles County has run amok. — New York Times, "A Southern California Without Orange Groves? One of the Last Could Soon Be Gone," 11 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amok.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for amok
amok
adverb
variants:
or amuck \ ə-ˈmək , -ˈmäk \
Kids Definition of amok
: in a wild or uncontrolled manner
Hint:
This adverb is usually used in the phrase “run amok” or “run amuck.”
amok
noun
\ ə-ˈmək
, -ˈmäk
\
, -ˈmäk
\
variants:
also amuck \ -ˈmək
\
\
Medical Definition of amok
: an episode of sudden mass assault against people or objects usually by a single individual following a period of brooding that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior occurring worldwide in numerous countries and cultures
Amok is a condition in South Asian and Pacific Islander cultures when a perso