PANICS Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

panics

verb

present tense third-person singular of panic

as in scares

to strike with fear for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him

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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 panics Standing up for carriage drivers cannot mean chaining their futures to a dying trade that risks lives every time a horse panics in traffic. — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026 Thomas, strapped down in a padded room, initially panics when Vision arrives because the Tommy memories Thomas tried to suppress now have physical form. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 The Federal Reserve was created to protect financial stability after recurrent banking panics. — Joao Gomes, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 Ask any company that quietly panics every time its founder gets on a plane. — Shann Biglione, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 But the loud, buzzing, mechanical presence often panics wildlife and alters natural behavior. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026 Rex panics as Bonnie's focus shifts away from her toy box and onto the glowing screen. — Nicole Pomarico, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 As promised, Ali shoots him, and as everyone panics and hits the floor, Ali shouts that Alamo Brown needs to come out. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026 The alarms go off, the two get locked in the entry hall, and as Emma panics, Charlie rushes over to kiss her, quieting her fear. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for panics

Verb

In the most basic sense, a film in which supernatural scares arise courtesy of negative space ought to at least have thoughtful framing, but the endless series of startles arrive with the same weight and energy as the fake outs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Kennedy, who was an anti-vaccine activist before entering politics and has sent mixed messages to Americans about getting the measles vaccine, scares her.

— Ali Swenson, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of scares

Verb

The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightens

Verb

Missile warning startles Dubai Earlier on Friday, a missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch underscored the ongoing tensions in the region, following the attack on the cargo vessel and Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past few days.

— Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026

Definition of startles

Verb

Black Palace is set in 1888 London as an emerging tabloid media terrifies the public with lurid stories of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
What terrifies you about this moment and inspires you about this moment?

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026