panic-stricken

Examples

• All

• Stuart Harris had been panic-stricken, terrified.

  Fiction book (1994)

• When the fire alarm went off, the panic-stricken students rushed for the exits.

• 'I suddenly felt panic-stricken at the thought of not seeing him again.'

  Brief Encounter (1945)

• I have seen a number of these things and have never become panic-stricken when near them.

  Blog text (2)

• I thought I'd be panic-stricken, want to run away or something.

  All About Eve (1950)

• Her hair is in strings around her wide, panic-stricken eyes.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Panic-stricken fans in J Section start moving away from the area as fast as they can.

  Fiction book (1996)

• As she ran, she heard panic-stricken voices shouting, "Tiger!"

  Fiction book (1998)

• Wednesday exchanges a panic-stricken look with Morticia.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Diving blindly, she hit the deck, dazed and panic-stricken.

  Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

T

terrified

vspanic-stricken

263 2.1

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is more sudden and likely to produce irrational, frenzied behaviour

H

hysterical

vspanic-stricken

• Informal

163 3.9

Extremely emotional in a way that seems out of control

is driven by sudden fear and desperation rather than broad strong emotion

F

frantic

vspanic-stricken

93 3.9

Very worried and acting quickly in a wild, uncontrolled way

focuses more on sudden overwhelming fear rather than general extreme worry

P

petrified

vspanic-stricken

29 4.6

So frightened that you cannot move or think clearly

involves frantic action rather than freezing in place

P

panicky

vspanic-stricken

22 4.1

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes you act without thinking

is more extreme and implies frantic, desperate reactions

I

in a panic

vspanic-stricken

19 4.3

To feel sudden strong fear and act without thinking

adds a stronger sense of desperation and frenzied response

P

panicked

vspanic-stricken

16 4.6

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes it hard to think or act calmly

includes desperation and often leads to frenzied, irrational behavior

A

alarmed

vspanic-stricken

10 2.2

Suddenly afraid or worried because you think something bad might happen

is more extreme sudden panic leading to uncontrolled behaviour

F

frightened

vspanic-stricken

3 1.0

Being afraid because something seems dangerous

is a sudden overwhelming panic often causing irrational actions

T

terror-stricken

vspanic-stricken

1 7.7

Suddenly feeling very frightened

stresses panic that more often causes irrational action

H

horror-stricken

vspanic-stricken

1 7.2

Feeling very shocked and afraid after seeing something frightening

is focused on immediate panic and frantic response rather than only shock

H

horror-struck

vspanic-stricken

1 7.2

So shocked and afraid that you cannot move

is more about immediate panic and frantic actions than lingering shock

P

panic-struck

vspanic-stricken

7.5

Suddenly very afraid and unable to think clearly

is the standard adjective form used to describe sudden intense fear

T

terror-struck

vspanic-stricken

7.9

Suddenly feeling very afraid

adds anxious desperation and often leads to frenzied behavior

Antonyms

U

untroubled

4 3.5

Calm and not worried about problems

C

composed

1 4.3

Calm and in control of your feelings during stress

How Scared

petrified

29 4.6

terrified

263 2.1

panic-stricken

4 6.3

scared

∞ 1.0

afraid

∞ 1.0

nervous

∞ 1.3

uneasy

98 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology