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
But while Anwar said the bills include no new mandates, thousands of Connecticut residents are panicking about the potential impact.
—
Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
If the Sixers’ fan base is panicking, if there are questions surrounding the team, the players have a calm about them that belies their situation.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The more transparency and disclosure these firms can provide, the better to keep investors from overly panicking.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
At this moment, Sosnick says, the smart investors will have their heads on a swivel, keeping an eye on private credit without panicking.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Irvi started panicking, and his face went gray.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
After hearing about the military operation in Puerto Vallarta, many Americans with weddings scheduled in Cancun over the next year have been panicking — even though the cities are more than 1,100 miles apart.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Annie is smart enough to know not to waste time panicking.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Sandy feet could wander in from the pool without anyone panicking, for example.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
If the Sixers’ fan base is panicking, if there are questions surrounding the team, the players have a calm about them that belies their situation.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The more transparency and disclosure these firms can provide, the better to keep investors from overly panicking.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
At this moment, Sosnick says, the smart investors will have their heads on a swivel, keeping an eye on private credit without panicking.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Irvi started panicking, and his face went gray.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
After hearing about the military operation in Puerto Vallarta, many Americans with weddings scheduled in Cancun over the next year have been panicking — even though the cities are more than 1,100 miles apart.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Annie is smart enough to know not to waste time panicking.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Sandy feet could wander in from the pool without anyone panicking, for example.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicking
Verb
-
Among them is an allegation that Live Nation threatens to retaliate against venues that work with rivals, allegedly scaring those venues into complying.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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The growing conflict is also drawing concern on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, scaring away carriers that had sought to make a more regular return to the Suez Canal.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
-
The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Pic was written and directed by horror filmmaker Ian Tuason, and follows the host (Nina Kiri) of a popular paranormal podcast who becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 2026.
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