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
Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 2 June 2025
In what could be a season-defining win for him, Brown turned in his best performance as a Cub after working with a mental skills coach to avoid going into panic mode during rough starts to games.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
There is plenty of time for that to change and no need to panic.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Noun
The film is controversial for how the killer is revealed during a moment of transgender panic that’s still jarring to watch.
—Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 2 June 2025
In what could be a season-defining win for him, Brown turned in his best performance as a Cub after working with a mental skills coach to avoid going into panic mode during rough starts to games.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
Verb
Another video clip posted to social media shows his father, Arturo Vasquez, who had panicked and run, sitting on the sidewalk across the street, being yanked up by the collar of his shirt by a uniformed agent.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
There is plenty of time for that to change and no need to panic.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for panic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic
Noun
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Choosing to be bold and to fight fear is not the easy choice.—
Mitchell W. Berger,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2025
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By the end of the month, Mercury will clash with Pluto retrograde, forcing intense conversations that bring hidden fears around your work environment and culture, or past experiences that need to be dealt with to the surface.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Commissioners debate impact fees Several commissioners expressed concerns that a sharp hike in impact fees could scare away businesses from building in Manatee County, from day care centers to manufacturing.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
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Apparently, the card's $5 million price tag is not scaring off the jet-setters looking to make the U.S. home.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Survey respondents’ anxiety over unemployment also declined, but a separate measure of employment trends from the Conference Board dipped slightly, reflecting lingering economic uncertainty.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
10 June 2025
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When an industry accelerates this fast, anxiety is sure to follow and a growing number of CEOs aren’t asking whether to build with AI.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Verb
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On May 18, Palmer and the cast attended the Shadyside High Senior Prom ’88 experience as guests explored versions of the gymnasium, lockers, girls’ bathroom and more locations designed to frighten fans.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
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What to know The Astra channel said that Tokarev, head of the military medical commission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Sevastopol, got frightened during an air raid alarm overnight on May 1 sparked by a Ukrainian drone barrage.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The report's analysis of teaching capabilities reveals why educators are feeling simultaneously excited and terrified about AI's expanding role in classrooms.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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When neighbors are afraid to call the police, when workers fear going to their jobs, and when children are terrified their parents won’t come home — that’s not safety.—
Andrew Nietor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Kids might be excited about the end of the school year and for summer to begin, but many working parents who don’t know how to fill their kids’ long summer days may be feeling some dread right about now.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
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Looming over his studies and extracurriculars is a singular dread.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Part of what startled Fitzgerald’s generation about their studio experience was how near at hand the real bad guys could be.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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The warning comes about two weeks after a Florida woman was killed when her canoe startled an 11-foot alligator at Lake Kissimmee, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Panic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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