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panic

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verb

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
Much of the cyber activity in recent days, as Israel and Iran trade missile strikes, appears aimed at sowing panic in the two countries. Sean Lyngaas, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 The Ambition Trap On Sale 41% off $17.56 Buy Now There is, collectively, a lot of panic around the economy, layoffs and changing industries with technology, so people who are mid-career might be feeling like they’re being phased out or maybe won’t be considered for opportunities moving forward. Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 18 June 2025
Verb
Only time will tell, but this tease at retirement has fans panicking in Los Angeles. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025 In that airport line in Thailand, Hillis remembers panicking about Diana's fate. Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for panic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic
Noun
  • And any fear—and hence bigger discounts—caused by overwrought debt worries just makes our opportunity even sweeter.
    Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • After a den of thieves ransacked a rural Northern California home so many times that the owner fled in fear, the property fell into even wilder hands: a group of bears, authorities said.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • However, the stories about Porter from Cleveland and Houston may scare enough other teams that Milwaukee can keep him at that price. 7.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • Without it, regulation-heavy environments like Spain (which recently introduced strict labeling laws for AI content) will scare away the next generation of founders. 3.
    Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Too much attention, often understandably driven by shareholder and financial analyst anxiety, is being placed on the lagging indicators of current performance.
    Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • In addition to being an outstanding source of quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, eggs contain choline, an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in brain health and helps to reduce stress and anxiety by improving emotional well-being.
    Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The woman inside banged pots and pans and screamed at the bear to try to frighten it away, officials said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
  • Winston Churchill said the U-boat peril was the only thing that really frightened him during World War II.
    Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Every manager, then, wanted a guy on his bench who was there for one reason only: to grab a bat, terrify the closer and obliterate a baseball.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Diana Lopez, a lifelong Santa Ana resident and a psychologist in the Santa Ana Unified School District, said students in her care are terrified.
    Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The fear is more like a soft surge of dread, as if my synapses had been been rewired to the thrusting strings of John Williams' famous theme.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • Feelings on the ground range from dread to determination.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Driver hit a pole after cicada startled them The crash happened around 1:48 p.m. on June 11 in Blue Ash, a suburb of Cincinnati, according to a crash report obtained by USA TODAY.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 June 2025
  • At one point, before anyone could intervene, the baby startled my dog, and my dog reacted by biting him.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Panic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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