Meaning & use

panicked

adjective·Everyday

Overcome by sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety that makes clear thinking difficult.

See it in a sentence

The panicked crowd rushed toward the exits when the fire alarm sounded.

In a panicked voice, she called for help when the power went out during the storm.

A note on using this word

Panicked is the adjective and past-tense verb form of 'panic'; it describes both a person's state and their resulting actions.

Words with a similar meaning

franticalarmed

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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