1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

panicky

adjective

Definition of panickynext
as in panicked

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 panicky The hardest part about it might be dealing with panicky Cubs fans in a pennant race. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 As if Wendy’s hands, heart and day planner weren’t full enough, a panicky Jack determines to win her back, much to her torment. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 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 The redemption requests at Blue Owl included some large institutions and wasn’t just limited to panicky retail investors, this person said. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026 Most descriptions conclude that Obama used this quirky exchange to overrule his panicky advisors and run full steam ahead on health reform. — Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026 Avoid jerky or panicky movements, and don’t wave for help — movement may attract the drone. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026 Then her daughter’s voice grew panicky. — Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panicky
  1. panicked
  2. worried
  3. upset
  4. apprehensive
  5. nervous
  6. frightened
  7. anxious
  8. jittery
Adjective
  • Then came a panicked call from Miller, who spotted jackhammers across the street.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026
  • For a panicked moment, the two of them just looked at each other.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of panicked
Adjective
  • Millions of amateur athletes play tackle football each year, and as evidence mounts at the professional level of the dangers of CTE, parents are increasingly worried about their children going into the sport.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
  • At the start of the novel, when the Koh children, Bo, DH, and Mido, are struggling in Korean schools after years of living abroad, their mother, Helen, gets worried.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • But there were clearly hundreds of Disney employees who were very upset about that.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Many have responded to Swan Song negatively, with RadarOnline previously reporting that some royal observers are upset that Spencer is looking to reopen old wounds while Charles is battling cancer.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of upset
Adjective
  • Fleet operators acknowledged that some drivers have been apprehensive to make the leap to zero-emission trucks because the technology is new and charging can be a challenge.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Wayne Davis, a 69, is a year old security officer from Sacramento who remained apprehensive with his eyes peeled in all directions.
    — Matthew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehensive
Adjective
  • Gael is herself a little nervous, not only about the tension but about leaving Kayden.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Just after the sun melted into the sea a deer trotted by, followed by its more nervous baby.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Nations are sustained not just by declarations and famous generals, but by less celebrated moments when frightened, exhausted people decide not to give up.
    — Harry Ostrer, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Also at top of mind was the film’s sound design, which is deliberately used as another tool to make the audience feel frightened and uncomfortable.
    — William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • Many of Martin’s clients come in feeling anxious about making the leap, unsure whether the look will suit them.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Forrest says he was pushed into thinking about climate change in the 2010s by his daughter Sophia, who was anxious about the planet’s future.
    — Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • The vibe is intimate, with the jittery undercurrent of an unboxing video.
    — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • After two jittery routines to start her competition, Claire triumphed with a stick to rocket ahead of Blakely and Carey.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of jittery

Browse Nearby Words

panicking
panicky
panics
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Panicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panicky. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of argot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All