as in panicky
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as in frightened
to strike with fear
for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him
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Recent Examples of panicked
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Cherry and his group then bolted from the scene, fleeing north on State Street to Lake Street, and then east on Lake Street to Wabash Avenue, as dozens of panicked people began running for their lives, prosecutors said.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The young man belly-crawled on the ice to reach the panicked dog and pulled the animal out of the water, according to the outlet.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The panicked gang leader later took to social media to appeal to cops from a new hiding place.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Redfin’s records only date back to 2017, but that period includes March 2020, when a panicked world plunged into COVID-19 lockdowns.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Issac Lopez, 44, who lives in the building next door, saw Ruiz Lara’s panicked girlfriend telling firefighters her partner was still inside the burning apartment.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Lies will not convince Americans who watched an ordinary person get executed by a panicked federal agent in a mask.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
On April 16, a week after that panicked text message from Banfield, Wynn floated another proposal to the bank, this time asking if the school could get a line of credit to cover expenses through the summer.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Jan. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The Blue Demons’ guard panicked, fumbling the ball, and Fudd read her perfectly.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
This sudden new reality is why the Bills panicked and just fired coach Sean McDermott despite his 106-58 record in Buffalo.
—Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of making the easy throw to first baseman Bryce Harper, Kerkering panicked and tried to throw to catcher JT Realmuto, sending the ball sailing over him and allowing the Dodgers to score a winning run and end the Phillies’ season.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The family panicked as a wildfire threatened their home.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Having steadied himself a little after a woeful start, Thiaw then panicked when pressurised from behind by Calvert-Lewin in the 32nd minute, slipped and ceded possession, allowing the Leeds forward to play Aaronson in on goal to open the scoring.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Foreign investors panicked, triggering a fire sale of Turkish government bonds.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Their posts — raw, fragmented and sometimes panicked — formed a digital time capsule of how a college campus experienced a mass shooting.
—Leah Willingham, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Many people come to the story—the missing woman, the panicked family, the ordeal so singular but relatable—expressing compassion.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Cherry and his group then bolted from the scene, fleeing north on State Street to Lake Street, and then east on Lake Street to Wabash Avenue, as dozens of panicked people began running for their lives, prosecutors said.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The young man belly-crawled on the ice to reach the panicked dog and pulled the animal out of the water, according to the outlet.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The panicked gang leader later took to social media to appeal to cops from a new hiding place.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Redfin’s records only date back to 2017, but that period includes March 2020, when a panicked world plunged into COVID-19 lockdowns.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Issac Lopez, 44, who lives in the building next door, saw Ruiz Lara’s panicked girlfriend telling firefighters her partner was still inside the burning apartment.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Lies will not convince Americans who watched an ordinary person get executed by a panicked federal agent in a mask.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
On April 16, a week after that panicked text message from Banfield, Wynn floated another proposal to the bank, this time asking if the school could get a line of credit to cover expenses through the summer.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Peggy isn’t panicked by her son’s alpha-male predilections.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The Blue Demons’ guard panicked, fumbling the ball, and Fudd read her perfectly.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
This sudden new reality is why the Bills panicked and just fired coach Sean McDermott despite his 106-58 record in Buffalo.
—Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of making the easy throw to first baseman Bryce Harper, Kerkering panicked and tried to throw to catcher JT Realmuto, sending the ball sailing over him and allowing the Dodgers to score a winning run and end the Phillies’ season.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The family panicked as a wildfire threatened their home.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Having steadied himself a little after a woeful start, Thiaw then panicked when pressurised from behind by Calvert-Lewin in the 32nd minute, slipped and ceded possession, allowing the Leeds forward to play Aaronson in on goal to open the scoring.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Foreign investors panicked, triggering a fire sale of Turkish government bonds.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Their posts — raw, fragmented and sometimes panicked — formed a digital time capsule of how a college campus experienced a mass shooting.
—Leah Willingham, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicked
Adjective
-
Cuomo and his panicky allies need the pollsters to be wrong again; maybe with a surge of older voters, maybe if Republican Curtis Sliwa’s supporters desert him.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
As top-tier sports continue to flee pay-TV like so many panicky horses hoofing their way out of a burning stable, the WNBA is nosing around for oats among the haybales as the sparks fly skyward.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Why was Caesar Augustus frightened of Ovid?—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Capital expenditures, which are closely watched by investors who are worried about overspending, are expected to range between $175 billion to $185 billion in 2026.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But Willie Brown, the former mayor and speaker was not worried that Newsom would overly burnish his own story in his book.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That scream likely scared off the man who showed no signs of backing off.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Broadly, more IPOs are expected this year, thanks to interest rate cuts and a large backlog of companies that have been scared off by market volatility and recession fears.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Potatoes naturally contain glycoalkaloids, but sprouting and green coloring indicate an increase in these compounds and a higher risk of toxic effects like vomiting and stomach upset.—
Aly Walansky,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Anything that promises to ease an upset stomach will galvanize the internet into trying it immediately.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Adjective
-
A lot of seniors are apprehensive about reporting things, Miller said.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
With its apprehensive expression, Cry Cry Horse is like an emotional support animal for what is expected to be a tumultuous Year of the Horse in the world.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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