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
Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Stewart commented how the news media has been overly panicked about the potential for an outbreak.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 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
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 10 May 2026
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
Adjective
As bullets tore through at least a dozen cars, including a state police cruiser, panicked motorists abandoned their vehicles or hid under them for cover, according to prosecutors and state police.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Stewart commented how the news media has been overly panicked about the potential for an outbreak.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 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
Verb
Ruff and the Sabres certainly aren’t panicked after one bad game in this series.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 10 May 2026
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
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
-
Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Police are investigating two recent home burglaries in Los Angeles in which the thieves were confronted by witnesses or scared off by home alarms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
In 2020, a bout with Covid-19 landed him in the hospital and scared him enough to make some changes.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
If the Cavaliers pull the Game 7 upset, Game 1 will play out at Madison Square Garden.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Away to a Newcastle team that has won just one of their last six league matches and has little to play for at this stage of a disappointing season, there could be an opportunity for West Ham to cause an upset.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Reports of emergency meetings of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reveal a leadership in panic, terrified of a populace that has reached its limit.—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
The recent hantavirus outbreak has terrified people around the world, and understandably so.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Haymon was much less apprehensive of expressing her opinions, particularly her preference for Gascon’s policies.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
There are even Allure editors who remain apprehensive.—
Tori Crowther,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Victor turned to her, startled.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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