panicked
PAN-ikt
/ˈpæn.ɪkt/
Overcome by sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often leading to irrational action.
Highlights sudden loss of emotional control and chaotic physical or mental reactions.
The story behind the word. In Greek mythology, Pan was the goat-legged god of nature who dwelt in secluded forests. He was said to shout or cause mysterious rustling noises that drove humans or herds of animals into sudden, unreasoning terror (panikon deima). Thus, sudden mass terror became known as panic.
Word relationships
- frenzied: Frenzied focuses on wild, hyperactive energy, whereas panicked explicitly focuses on fear as the cause.
- hysterical: Hysterical implies an uncontrollable emotional outbreak involving crying or screaming.
- collected: Staying cool, organized, and focused despite danger.
- serene: Completely calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
Commonly confused with
- panicking: Panicking is the present participle/gerund form, while panicked is the past participle/adjective form.
Word family
- panic (noun / verb): Sudden uncontrollable fear or to experience such fear.
- panicky (adjective): Prone to panic or feeling inclined to panic easily.
Collocations
- panicked reaction
- panicked phone call
- panicked crowd
Idioms & expressions
- hit the panic button
- lose one's head
Example sentences
- "The panicked crowd rushed toward the emergency exits when the fire alarm sounded." Emergency News
- "She made a panicked phone call after realizing she had left her passport on the train." Personal Narrative
Memory hook
Remember the ancient Greek god PAN who frightened woodland travelers into a PANIC. Sudden, wild terror inspired by the god Pan.
When not to use
Do not use for calm, organized, strategic worry; panicked implies erratic disorganization.
Fun facts
- Spelling tip: 'panic' adds a 'k' before '-ed' or '-ing' (panicked, panicking) to preserve the hard 'c' sound!
Explore more words
shriek, startle, unflappable, skittish, impulsive, discombobulated
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