as in frightened
too overcome with panic to think or act normally
The panic-stricken horses crashed through the door of the burning barn.
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Recent Examples of panic-stricken
For the first time in his life, the great shark couldn’t swim freely and, panic-stricken, bolted clear of his world and there was only emptiness, and his tail and pectoral fins were helpless in the void.
—
Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
That afternoon, another detainee called her with a message that left her panic-stricken: Her son, 25-year-old Yoiker David Sequera, had been taken away to a notorious offshore prison.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
These are not the first crew members to be panic-stricken by a stray rat today.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 May 2023
Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
That afternoon, another detainee called her with a message that left her panic-stricken: Her son, 25-year-old Yoiker David Sequera, had been taken away to a notorious offshore prison.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
These are not the first crew members to be panic-stricken by a stray rat today.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic-stricken
Adjective
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Try Visual Deterrents Birds are easily frightened, so adding colorful flags that wave in the wind may keep them from landing on your lawn and dining on your grass seed.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
13 Mar. 2026
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And a new study, published in the journal Emotion, suggests that a robot that mimics human breathing can also pass on frightened feelings.—
Simon Makin,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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As Archangel Michael, Devyn Wade is both boyishly sweet and terrified as a devil’s advocate, cautiously questioning God’s decisions and her history of killing the innocent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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Everyone is terrified but grateful for this gift Ennis and Gary have given them.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From Special Forces to life in Richardson In Richardson, where Paktiawal settled, his family has questions, and the community is scared.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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A lot of directors would have been scared or nervous to shoot that.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Avoid jerky or panicky movements, and don’t wave for help — movement may attract the drone.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Then her daughter’s voice grew panicky.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panic-stricken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panic-stricken. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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