as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
the sudden sight of a grizzly bear filled the hiker with panic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to scare
to strike with fear
for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of panic
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
According to a report from the Associated Press, government officials in the city of Puri — located in the state of Odisha in eastern India — said that several people attending a Rath Yatra festival on Sunday, June 29, began to faint and feel claustrophobic, causing panic in the crowd.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 June 2025
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Felix sniffed his way home while his family panicked and began searching for him after hearing the dreadful news of his escape.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Noun
Immediate clarity reduces panic and gives people something concrete to execute.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
According to a report from the Associated Press, government officials in the city of Puri — located in the state of Odisha in eastern India — said that several people attending a Rath Yatra festival on Sunday, June 29, began to faint and feel claustrophobic, causing panic in the crowd.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
A little over halfway through the season, here’s what’s worth panicking over, and what isn’t.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Felix sniffed his way home while his family panicked and began searching for him after hearing the dreadful news of his escape.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic
Noun
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Rather than basing trades on company fundamentals or earnings outlooks, many investors appear to be reacting to market trends and peer activity — a pattern commonly associated with FOMO, or fear of missing out.—
Spriha Srivastava,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
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Humanitarian workers—many idealistic and committed—fear that sounding the alarm will end operations altogether.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Verb
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The combination of a floodlight and a camera is a great way to scare off intruders and get better quality footage at night.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
11 July 2025
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Simply pull the pin, and the device will emit a blaring siren sound in combination with a strobe light that will draw attention to your situation and scare away would-be threats.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Your husband’s anxiety just makes her puppet strings easier to pull.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
5 July 2025
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For example, a 2019 report by Columbia University in the City of New York highlighted how boredom is associated with issues such as risky behavior, anxiety and depression.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
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But their return has also angered and frightened livestock farmers and others in rural communities who are having to learn to live alongside these once nearly-extinct creatures.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
9 July 2025
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But on Friday night, the booms and blasts of celebratory fireworks appear to have frightened them away.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Paired with the gray-ish green color palette, sparse decor, and dark atmospherics in the Institute itself, the bleak vibes may be enough to turn some viewers off for good, especially those horror purists who tune in hoping to be terrified rather than just bummed out.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 July 2025
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In a city where so many big plans have gone so badly for 30 years, San Diego residents shouldn’t just be wary when another bold proposal comes long — they should be terrified.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Noun
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But there is a clinging dread and mystery in these stories that will stay with you.—
Drew Broussard
July 8,
Literary Hub,
8 July 2025
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For Lawler, the incident drove home the growing problem of space junk—and left her with a sense of dread that’s never quite gone away.—
Dan Falk,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Your trash schedule might not be top of mind this Independence Day between going to fireworks displays, making a last-minute run to the grocery store or getting startled by loud booms.—
Eleanor Nash
July 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2025
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According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Panic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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