as in scaring
to strike with fear
for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him
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Recent Examples of panicking
Parton said her experience last August prevented her from panicking when faced with a heavy police presence during Tuesday’s standoff.
—
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Prices are high, the Iran war is not going well, Republicans are panicking over November’s midterms, and polls show that a majority of Americans believe that the president’s priorities are misplaced.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Some early polls predicted a possible dual Republican matchup, panicking Democrats worried about losing the governor’s mansion for the first time in two decades and reigniting an effort to reform the primary system.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Markets weren’t panicking yet, Kelly said at the time.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
One of the best creative decisions Survivor ever made was not panicking and reshuffling the tribes once Koror started dominating.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Everybody else was the ones panicking.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 7 May 2026
For now, Lakers star LeBron James is not panicking.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Any passengers not knocked out during the chaos or sucked out into the sky are generally screaming and grabbing for oxygen masks while Captain Rich makes a futile announcement about the importance of not panicking.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Prices are high, the Iran war is not going well, Republicans are panicking over November’s midterms, and polls show that a majority of Americans believe that the president’s priorities are misplaced.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Some early polls predicted a possible dual Republican matchup, panicking Democrats worried about losing the governor’s mansion for the first time in two decades and reigniting an effort to reform the primary system.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Markets weren’t panicking yet, Kelly said at the time.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
One of the best creative decisions Survivor ever made was not panicking and reshuffling the tribes once Koror started dominating.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Everybody else was the ones panicking.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 7 May 2026
For now, Lakers star LeBron James is not panicking.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Any passengers not knocked out during the chaos or sucked out into the sky are generally screaming and grabbing for oxygen masks while Captain Rich makes a futile announcement about the importance of not panicking.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicking
Verb
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But she was saved by three bystanders who yelled out, scaring him off and chasing him through the park, sources said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
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Predator decoys that are in constant motion may be most effective at scaring birds.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Some cyclists sped by pretty quickly, startling us and our dog.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicking. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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