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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of panic
Made By History, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Perhaps Thursday’s threat was just a bit of bluster from a president prone to tantrums — a one-off social media post that his more stable advisers will surely try to rein in to avoid an all-out panic.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
But those of us who have been following President Trump for a long time knew better than to panic.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Noun
The decline of the whaling industry left the city in panic: shops were empty, wharves were idle, and the number of residents on poor relief nearly doubled.
— Made By History, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Perhaps Thursday’s threat was just a bit of bluster from a president prone to tantrums — a one-off social media post that his more stable advisers will surely try to rein in to avoid an all-out panic.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
No need to start panicking yet, though, USMNT fans.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
But those of us who have been following President Trump for a long time knew better than to panic.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic
Noun
-
In that case, sour consumer sentiment also served as a major source of fear.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Creating a culture of fear by persecuting unpopular individuals and groups?—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Missouri product is a solid route-runner with sure hands, but there are some off-field concerns that could scare teams away.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
-
As the Trump administration arbitrarily revokes and denies student visas, and xenophobic rhetoric scares away potential foreigners, agencies specializing in recruiting students from abroad are facing a sharp downturn.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump's remarks came as he's started to soften his tone with China regarding tariffs, which have rattled the global markets and stoked anxieties about the economy.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
While immediate inflation concerns have eased, the current administration’s assertive tariff policies are reigniting these anxieties, potentially leading to future economic instability.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Two years ago, several small-business owners testified to a legislative committee that Americans with Disabilities Act plaintiffs’ lawyers filed spurious complaints, alleging what appeared to be a random list of violations in an attempt to frighten and intimidate the business owner.—
Mark Hillman,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2025
-
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The house that the Americans strategically position themselves in is home to two families; there are occasional insert shots of family photos and trinkets, and at several points these families are shown cowering, terrified by what’s happening around them.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
-
If the deportations don’t terrify you yet, consider this: Erik Prince, a close Trump ally and founder of the private military contractor Blackwater, is advancing a $25 billion proposal to the White House to build mass detention centers in order to deport some 12 million immigrants.—
Sandy Tolan,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For many, as the rain kept falling, there was a sense of dread that the worst was still to come.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Thus, the fear of displacement has not become a distant memory but a continuous dread as the age of gentrification looms over the neighborhood.—
Alyza J Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.—
Rob Mank,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 Apr. 2025
-
But the website also has messages about residents being startled, as Catanzaro was, by stealthy contractors with air guns.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Panic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share