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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Recent Examples of panicked
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
In Hallow Road, Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys star as a couple who get jolted awake by a panicked call from their daughter, who has just hit a pedestrian with her car late at night.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Ein Samia and Bardala, West Bank — When the masked men sliced through the metal fence of the water-pumping station on a dark February evening and ran toward the squat building, the four workers inside panicked.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
So now – panicked fanciers in Belgium are turning to this soft-spoken veterinarian to help protect their pigeons.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
She’s supported by her roommate, Susie (Thaddea Graham), a fantasy cosplayer and wrestling fan, and her formerly absentee father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), who arrives at Margo’s door not long after leaving rehab for an opioid addiction and seeing a string of panicked texts from her.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
When George lifted Molly up outside in her ball gown for a romantic photo of her affectionately looking down at him, his loving glance up at her instantly turned panicked.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
The decisive event of his childhood involved, fittingly enough, gunfire and a panicked dash.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The response underscores the intensity of the speculative mania around AI, which has fueled stampedes into would-be winners and panicked rushes away from any industry that seems poised to be hit by the competitive threat.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Belinda Daniels panicked in 2018 when the pediatrician said her 1-year-old son, Jovanni, had lead in his body.
—Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
Dube isn’t as panicked about its impact on wages and employment as many other observers are.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Police said Roediger panicked, fled the scene and buried the gun in a neighbor’s planter box.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 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
Adjective
According to Hernández’s attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, and at least one eyewitness, officers fired their guns first, prompting a panicked Hernández to try and drive away.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
In Hallow Road, Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys star as a couple who get jolted awake by a panicked call from their daughter, who has just hit a pedestrian with her car late at night.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Ein Samia and Bardala, West Bank — When the masked men sliced through the metal fence of the water-pumping station on a dark February evening and ran toward the squat building, the four workers inside panicked.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
So now – panicked fanciers in Belgium are turning to this soft-spoken veterinarian to help protect their pigeons.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
She’s supported by her roommate, Susie (Thaddea Graham), a fantasy cosplayer and wrestling fan, and her formerly absentee father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), who arrives at Margo’s door not long after leaving rehab for an opioid addiction and seeing a string of panicked texts from her.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
When George lifted Molly up outside in her ball gown for a romantic photo of her affectionately looking down at him, his loving glance up at her instantly turned panicked.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
The decisive event of his childhood involved, fittingly enough, gunfire and a panicked dash.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The response underscores the intensity of the speculative mania around AI, which has fueled stampedes into would-be winners and panicked rushes away from any industry that seems poised to be hit by the competitive threat.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Kolasinski has said Mendoza panicked and tried to flee when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents blocked his car and did not intend to run over anyone.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Belinda Daniels panicked in 2018 when the pediatrician said her 1-year-old son, Jovanni, had lead in his body.
—Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
Dube isn’t as panicked about its impact on wages and employment as many other observers are.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Police said Roediger panicked, fled the scene and buried the gun in a neighbor’s planter box.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicked
Adjective
-
The redemption requests at Blue Owl included some large institutions and wasn’t just limited to panicky retail investors, this person said.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At Cal Poly Pomona, director of media relations Cynthia Peters directed students and staff who were worried about being unable to access their course materials as a result of the incident to a Reddit post uploaded by the school’s Bookstore faculty on Thursday.—
Kristy Hutchings,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
But locals are worried that other companies could move in.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
After the goring, the animal retreated back into the reserve when scared off by other patrol members.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After the goring, the rhino retreated back into the reserve when other patrol members scared it off.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Last month, despite Orbán’s formidable, long-standing attempts to rig the legal and electoral systems in his favor, Magyar won, in a stunning upset.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Gunther was upset that Rhodes was taking his screen time.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Monitor was always meant to be experienced with a room full of people being terrified together.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
-
No matter who was in charge, the Miami Dolphins franchise have been terrified of quarterback competition for nearly two decades, and that might explain why South Florida’s NFL franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There are even Allure editors who remain apprehensive.—
Tori Crowther,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Pressley, a co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, has for months been making the case to Republicans and some apprehensive Democrats to get them on board, according to a senior aide to the congresswoman.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Littrell walked up to the man, who appeared to be startled by the singer's presence.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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