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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of panicked
Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
With storms closing in, dwindling fuel, and a panicked, pregnant passenger at the controls, Braden must talk her through an impossible landing while fighting his own exhaustion, guilt, and unraveling personal life.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The panicked father called state police to request an escort, but that wasn’t possible.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
These revelations triggered a wave of panicked news stories, and soon the internet was full of startups offering blue-light-blocking glasses and screen filters.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Midway through the movie, Springsteen’s mother calls him in a panicked state.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
The Louvre closed for the day following the theft, with panicked visitors, many of whom mistakenly believed a terrorist attack was taking place, shepherded out.
—News Desk, Artforum, 20 Oct. 2025
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stormed through Santa Ana, California, in June, panicked calls flooded into the city’s emergency response system.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
Even when a child seems panicked and short of breath, their body might still be getting enough oxygen.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The unprecedented decision to halt benefits has panicked many recipients, driving them to overwhelmed food pantries to help feed themselves and their families.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
One day, Scorsese’s assistant panicked after taking too many hardcore sleeping bills, freezing up the assistant’s mouth in the process.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
Finally, on the day of the tux fitting, Joe panicked, abruptly leaving the atelier.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
The video shows a bleeding, panicked Lester urgently instructing Randall to bring Oliver his shrimp.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
When the spreadsheet was invented, accountants panicked.
—Jj Rosen, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Spencer panicked and called her mom, who then alerted staff at The Waverly about Ray’s disappearance from his room, per Fox 13.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Density-averse town residents panicked.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Louisville, Kentucky — The power had just gone off and the ground was shaking at Grade A Auto Parts when the owner received a panicked video call from his chief financial officer.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
With storms closing in, dwindling fuel, and a panicked, pregnant passenger at the controls, Braden must talk her through an impossible landing while fighting his own exhaustion, guilt, and unraveling personal life.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The panicked father called state police to request an escort, but that wasn’t possible.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
These revelations triggered a wave of panicked news stories, and soon the internet was full of startups offering blue-light-blocking glasses and screen filters.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Midway through the movie, Springsteen’s mother calls him in a panicked state.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
The Louvre closed for the day following the theft, with panicked visitors, many of whom mistakenly believed a terrorist attack was taking place, shepherded out.
—News Desk, Artforum, 20 Oct. 2025
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stormed through Santa Ana, California, in June, panicked calls flooded into the city’s emergency response system.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
Even when a child seems panicked and short of breath, their body might still be getting enough oxygen.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
But when the announcement went over the PA system that there was an active shooter on campus—and that this was not a drill—students panicked.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The unprecedented decision to halt benefits has panicked many recipients, driving them to overwhelmed food pantries to help feed themselves and their families.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
One day, Scorsese’s assistant panicked after taking too many hardcore sleeping bills, freezing up the assistant’s mouth in the process.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
Finally, on the day of the tux fitting, Joe panicked, abruptly leaving the atelier.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
The video shows a bleeding, panicked Lester urgently instructing Randall to bring Oliver his shrimp.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
When the spreadsheet was invented, accountants panicked.
—Jj Rosen, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Spencer panicked and called her mom, who then alerted staff at The Waverly about Ray’s disappearance from his room, per Fox 13.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Density-averse town residents panicked.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicked
Adjective
-
Cuomo and his panicky allies need the pollsters to be wrong again; maybe with a surge of older voters, maybe if Republican Curtis Sliwa’s supporters desert him.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
As top-tier sports continue to flee pay-TV like so many panicky horses hoofing their way out of a burning stable, the WNBA is nosing around for oats among the haybales as the sparks fly skyward.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Malik’s boss is not happy that Malik doesn’t have a grip on the Crane brothers, though Malik assures him that Amos frightened Sarah into backing off — and that Dinah is tucked away at a safe house.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Don’t be frightened, though, fans; The Parent Trap gal is still in the competition!—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Are Americans worried about inflation just wrong?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
We weren’t used to being scared by the internet yet.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Few books have scared me as much.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the establishment, since the 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the position himself for a decade beginning in 2011.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Boise State fans could have been upset when they were upset at home by Fresno State as their season continued to slide away from them.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone was terrified of Friedkin.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Trump is terrified of the midterms, of Republicans losing control of the House or the Senate or both.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With mass layoffs, many employees are apprehensive about being replaced.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The two have been apprehensive advocates for each other over the past two seasons, and this season Stella vowed to go to bat for Mia’s bid for news director.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The boy looked up mid-sob, startled.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Panicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicked. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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