panic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of panicnext
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

panic

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word panic distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of panic are alarm, dread, fear, fright, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

In what contexts can alarm take the place of panic?

The words alarm and panic can be used in similar contexts, but alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When could dread be used to replace panic?

Although the words dread and panic have much in common, dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When is it sensible to use fear instead of panic?

While the synonyms fear and panic are close in meaning, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When would fright be a good substitute for panic?

The synonyms fright and panic are sometimes interchangeable, but fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

When can terror be used instead of panic?

The meanings of terror and panic largely overlap; however, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of panic?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

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
Noun
Those who live far away, like Raina Moss, prefer to fly with Alaska Airlines, though a cold weather embargo issued last week that prevented dogs from flying in the cargo space caused some last-minute panic. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026 Take that, panic over vanishing attention spans! —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Peggy isn’t panicked by her son’s alpha-male predilections. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Do not panic, but do not ignore this either. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for panic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic
  1. fear
  2. scare
  3. anxiety
  4. frighten
  5. terrify
  6. dread
  7. startle
Noun
  • The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • Why this message is designed to scare This scam relies on presentation, not accuracy.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • That kind of stuff is fun, [and] doesn’t scare me too much.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of scare
Noun
  • Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.
    — Erendira Rendon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.
    — Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
    — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • Quote of the week Labour seem to be mystified and terrified of the bond market in equal proportions.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Pearl asks Sam the changeling son, appropriately terrified by the terms of such salvation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of terrify
Noun
  • The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In its worst forms, paranoia is a misapplication of the tools of attention, devotion, and care, scuttled by dread, the oppression of the unknown, and a lack of support.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of dread
Verb
  • Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.
    — Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
  • After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.
    — Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of startle

Browse Nearby Words

panhandlers
panic
panicked
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Cite this Entry

“Panic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on panic

Nglish: Translation of panic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about panic

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