as in panicky
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Dissimilar Words
as in frightened
to strike with fear
for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of panicked
Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
What went right and what went wrong during the panicked scramble for solutions?
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Which is exactly why Rodriguez isn’t as panicked as everyone else.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Victim Placido Dandrea’s wife was on the phone with their daughter early Tuesday evening when the chaos unfolded — with the panicked daughter dashing out from their home only to find her dad mortally injured — a neighbor said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Her passion is apparent through several tiny pirate ships around the room, the massive oil painting above the hearth, and Brenda’s first appearance being a panicked phone call about the annual Lake Charles Pirate Festival.
—Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
But manager Craig Counsell was far from panicked when talking to reporters early last week.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Patrons — many just as panicked and some in a drunken stupor — ran by her.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
A week earlier, Sporing panicked after allowing an opening goal in San Jose, then fell behind 2-0 by halftime.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Whelan was panicked by the assault, according to the court document, and struggled to unbuckle her seat belt.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit said troopers violated Paez Terán's free speech rights and used excessive force against the activist, who then panicked and began firing shots.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit said troopers violated Paez Terán’s free speech rights and used excessive force against the activist, who then panicked and began firing shots.
—R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
When a now infamous MIT report last year found a majority of AI pilots weren’t delivering meaningful returns, investors panicked, treating it as an indictment of AI technology.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
As soon as the words were out of his mouth Phil Schiliro panicked.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The fan base panicked last season when the Dodgers lost 13 of 18 in July and then seven of eight in late August and early September, when their relievers kept blowing leads and blowing games.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Other front offices might have panicked if the first two seasons with an all-universe game-changer ended with 60 and 48 losses.
—Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Having underprepared for an audience with Pope John Paul II, a panicked Minnelli offered to sing.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
What went right and what went wrong during the panicked scramble for solutions?
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Which is exactly why Rodriguez isn’t as panicked as everyone else.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Victim Placido Dandrea’s wife was on the phone with their daughter early Tuesday evening when the chaos unfolded — with the panicked daughter dashing out from their home only to find her dad mortally injured — a neighbor said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Her passion is apparent through several tiny pirate ships around the room, the massive oil painting above the hearth, and Brenda’s first appearance being a panicked phone call about the annual Lake Charles Pirate Festival.
—Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
But manager Craig Counsell was far from panicked when talking to reporters early last week.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Patrons — many just as panicked and some in a drunken stupor — ran by her.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
A week earlier, Sporing panicked after allowing an opening goal in San Jose, then fell behind 2-0 by halftime.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Police said Roediger panicked, fled the scene and buried the gun in a neighbor’s planter box.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Whelan was panicked by the assault, according to the court document, and struggled to unbuckle her seat belt.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit said troopers violated Paez Terán's free speech rights and used excessive force against the activist, who then panicked and began firing shots.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit said troopers violated Paez Terán’s free speech rights and used excessive force against the activist, who then panicked and began firing shots.
—R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
When a now infamous MIT report last year found a majority of AI pilots weren’t delivering meaningful returns, investors panicked, treating it as an indictment of AI technology.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
As soon as the words were out of his mouth Phil Schiliro panicked.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The fan base panicked last season when the Dodgers lost 13 of 18 in July and then seven of eight in late August and early September, when their relievers kept blowing leads and blowing games.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Other front offices might have panicked if the first two seasons with an all-universe game-changer ended with 60 and 48 losses.
—Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicked
Adjective
-
Most descriptions conclude that Obama used this quirky exchange to overrule his panicky advisors and run full steam ahead on health reform.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Diving supplies, stratospheric prices, and rules and regs for who could buy how much gas and when sent Americans into panicky buying habits.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Democrats are worried that our troops eat too well.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But, for now, some leaders remain worried about what happens next.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, tanker ships caught in the cross fire ended up at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, which scared off potential customers.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The recent immigration crackdowns have scared her.—
Mary Schmich,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In the video of the altercation, which was broken into clips and cross-posted across social media platforms, Peters and the woman are hanging out when Lentz arrives, upset.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, say they are exhausted by the bombs that have battered their city on a daily basis and terrified of the security checkpoints that have popped up looking for spies.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
He was terrified after hearing stories about people dying in the Oklahoma County jail, which was by then recognized as one of the deadliest in the nation.—
Brianna Bailey,
The Frontier,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The atmosphere over the show in the UK has been apprehensive, with many in the UK industry skeptical that the series can justify the significant outlay Sky will have put down.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Some were more apprehensive than others.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The realization that many members did not have the same connection to Israel, and even sympathized with its critics, startled her.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As Alpha waits for the results of blood tests, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, jittery stranger in their apartment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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