rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypanicOverwhelming fear
noun / verb / adjective

panic

PAN-ik/ˈpænɪk/

Sudden overwhelming fear or anxiety.

The woman panics at the sudden flare-up and backs away.

An older woman becomes overwhelmed by a sudden stovetop flare-up: instead of using the nearby fire extinguisher, she backs away with both hands clamped to her head, knocking over a chair.
Etymology
panGreekgod of woods and fields
+icGreekpertaining to

Panic originally described fear associated with Pan, whose mysterious woodland sounds were believed to spread groundless terror. The adjective “of Pan” became a name for sudden, overwhelming fright.

In context

TED-Ed0:26
a panic attack— a sensation so overwhelming, many people mistake it for a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening crisis.
What causes panic attacks, and how can you prevent them? - Cindy J. Aaronson

More examples

  • The unexpected noise caused panic.
  • They have panicked over false alarms before.
  • A panic reaction made the task harder.

Forms

panic · panics · panicked · panicking

panicky adjective — Prone to sudden overwhelming fear.

Similar words

terror
Extreme fear, not necessarily disrupting clear thought in the same way.
alarm
Fear or concern caused by a perceived threat.