panicked 1 of 2

panicked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of panic

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 panicked
Adjective
Body cam footage shows a Ross Township police officer catching a panicked fawn that was trapped after falling over a retaining wall. Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Concerns of a serial killer first emerged in late 2010 after the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, a 23-year-old woman who placed panicked 911 calls from the Oak Beach community before vanishing into the surrounding marsh. Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026 Meanwhile, a Camp Mystic representative had reached Matthew Childress and his wife, Wendie, on their panicked drive from Houston. Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 Griffin told me that Citadel would have collapsed had Morgan Stanley failed, as that would have ignited more panicked selling. Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 The worker had passed out between the laundry and shower facilities and was surrounded by eight other panicked staff members deliberating what to do. Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 The panicked grandmother immediately called for assistance, and the HM Coastguard asked the agency to send out a lifeboat. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 The visual contrast between Patricia’s panicked, mad dashing and the Boogeyman’s extreeeemely slow pace is consistently hilarious. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 3 June 2026 The panicked teen heads home and begs stepdad Gary (Paul Adelstein) for one last dose of the magic tincture he's supposed to be weening off of. Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Verb
The rule had Woods — and Knicks fans — panicked since her good luck charm wouldn't be on her arm for the big night. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 As is, at this point, a tradition on The View, the cohosts reacted in the moment while Haines comically panicked at the interruption. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 He was panicked but brief in both calls, which lasted only seconds. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 Parents were rightly panicked, and fierce pressure was levied on the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026 The mass evacuation in Garden Grove and nearby cities Friday left some residents panicked and confused. Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 22 May 2026 Historically, adults panicked about technology kids loved. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicked
Adjective
  • The vice president was panicky, the authors wrote.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • In the mid-2010s, when every other norm of civility was beginning to fall apart, Jeopardy strategy became a panicky knife fight for the Doubles, the most powerful clues on the board.
    Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • But her outbursts frightened the children too.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
  • What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
    Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Now, multiple residents are left worried about what's to come next week with extremely hot temperatures in the forecast.
    Heath Kalb, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • With voters nationwide worried about inflation and the rising cost of living, some Californians might feel less inclined to provide full healthcare coverage to those lacking legal status.
    Christine Mai-Duc, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Karma came walking up on Jamon Coleman one day with pistols in hand, the only kind of moment that ever scared his son.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
  • The scientists only got a passing glimpse of the goblin shark before the lights and loud noise from the ROV's motor scared it away, Auscavitch told ABC News.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Scotland may have lost 0-1 to Morocco in a World Cup match at Boston Stadium on Friday, but the thing the Tartan Army was most upset about?
    Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 20 June 2026
  • Katie Wilson won an upset victory to lead Seattle last fall.
    Matt Brown, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The powerful tremor terrified Caracas residents inside their homes.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • This is a necessary evil of the apron era, with teams terrified of going into the first- and second-apron payroll thresholds to retain their rosters.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Even those who are apprehensive about sardines should give this salad a try.
    Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 June 2026
  • Haymon was much less apprehensive of expressing her opinions, particularly her preference for Gascon’s policies.
    Rafael Perez, Daily News, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • To his luck, the sound finally startled the bear and sent it running.
    Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
  • Officials apparently were startled when more than 2,000 mostly young fans did just that.
    Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 17 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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