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 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 Who answers messages at month four when shock loss panics a patient? — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 21 June 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 The veteran Swedish defender reads play early, organizes the defensive line and rarely panics when San Diego’s aggressive pressing scheme stretches the field. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for panics

Verb

Writer-director Jacob Chase is uniquely qualified to distill what really scares audiences.

— William Earl, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of scares

Verb

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
And for members who have a long history, who are used to running on that long history, that frightens them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 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