PANIC Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'panic' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of panic are alarm , dread , fear , fright , terror , and trepidation . While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity. // the news caused widespread panic

Q: In what contexts can 'alarm' take the place of 'panic'?

The words alarm and panic can be used in similar contexts, but alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. // view the situation with alarm

Q: When could 'dread' be used to replace 'panic'?

Although the words dread and panic have much in common, dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety. // faced the meeting with dread

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fear' instead of 'panic'?

While the synonyms fear and panic are close in meaning, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. // fear of the unknown

Q: When would 'fright' be a good substitute for 'panic'?

The synonyms fright and panic are sometimes interchangeable, but fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear. // fright at being awakened suddenly

Q: When can 'terror' be used instead of 'panic'?

The meanings of terror and panic largely overlap; however, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear. // immobilized with terror

Q: How do 'trepidation' and 'dread' relate to one another, in the sense of 'panic'?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation. // raised the subject with trepidation

panic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of panic next

as in fear

the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the sudden sight of a grizzly bear filled the hiker with panic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

panic

2 of 2

verb

as in to scare

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word panic distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of panic are alarm, dread, fear, fright, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

In what contexts can alarm take the place of panic?

The words alarm and panic can be used in similar contexts, but alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When could dread be used to replace panic?

Although the words dread and panic have much in common, dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When is it sensible to use fear instead of panic?

While the synonyms fear and panic are close in meaning, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When would fright be a good substitute for panic?

The synonyms fright and panic are sometimes interchangeable, but fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

When can terror be used instead of panic?

The meanings of terror and panic largely overlap; however, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of panic?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

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 panic

Noun

Over the past several years, the American right has been raising a moral panic over drag, particularly drag events that involve interactions with children, such as Drag Queen Story Hour. —

James Factora, Them, 10 Feb. 2025 The lack of transparency from federal immigration officials leaves the public in the dark about a major immigration enforcement operation that spurred panic across the metro area. —

Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025

Verb

Nobody asked for the water; in fact, panicked local water agencies had to persuade the Army Corps to release less to limit flood risks. —

Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025 But in the hours after they were sent, executives in the SMS-messaging industry were already starting to panic. —

Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for panic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for panic

Noun

But fear of ice-cold takes never stopped us before.

— Jeff Gluck, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in a week when a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump raised fears in Kyiv that it was being frozen out of negotiations, with the White House also downplaying the prospects of Ukraine joining NATO.

— Caitlin Danaher, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025