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
People will also be asking who has a building big enough for our subset group of archivists documenting, artists making things, community organizers gathering, professors panicking, singers singing, parents guarding in order to gather us together again.
—
Angela Pelster, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
These seniors weren’t panicking, though—this was very clear.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Soundman Loch Townsend coolly exposed the film and handed the reel to the queen’s panicking press secretary, who took it with relief.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
That number stopped me cold; my brain started panicking and running around in circles in my skull.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Griselda tried to keep him from panicking.
—Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
But their retail traders continued buying all the way down, drawing on their past successes in increasing exposure amid pullbacks rather than panicking.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told them to stop panicking.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
In some counties, home values have tripled, and the residents are panicking.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Angela Pelster, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
These seniors weren’t panicking, though—this was very clear.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Soundman Loch Townsend coolly exposed the film and handed the reel to the queen’s panicking press secretary, who took it with relief.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
That number stopped me cold; my brain started panicking and running around in circles in my skull.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Griselda tried to keep him from panicking.
—Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
But their retail traders continued buying all the way down, drawing on their past successes in increasing exposure amid pullbacks rather than panicking.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told them to stop panicking.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
In some counties, home values have tripled, and the residents are panicking.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicking
Verb
-
How to tell her about this terrible event without scaring her?—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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California’s declines can be more properties for sale, nudging sellers to compete on price, and a wobbly economy scaring off some potential buyers.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s terrifying on a whole different level.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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At another level, there does seem to be something absurd and even terrifying about the idea that someone who is not elected can become the leader of a country and then will be recognized as the leader of that country and receive the immunities afforded to heads of state.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Saturday, startling his sister.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Panicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicking. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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