panic-stricken

/'pænik,strikən/

Thân thiện

The crowd became panic-stricken when the fire alarm sounded.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Overwhelmed by sudden, extreme fear: Describes a state of being completely overcome by intense, often irrational, terror or alarm.
   • Driven to desperation by fear: Suggests a level of fear so severe that it leads to frantic, uncontrolled, or desperate behavior.

Usage

The adjective "panic-stricken" is used to describe a person, group, or sometimes an animal that is experiencing an extreme, paralyzing, or frantic state of fear. It emphasizes a loss of calm and control due to sudden terror.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The panic-stricken passengers rushed toward the emergency exits.
  • Her panic-stricken face told me something was terribly wrong.
  • The panic-stricken deer froze in the middle of the road.

Advanced Usage

• "panic-stricken" as a descriptor: Often used before a noun to vividly convey the extreme emotional state of the subject.
  • The news left the community in a panic-stricken frenzy.

Variants and Related Words

• Panicky (adj): Feeling or characterized by panic; less intense than "panic-stricken."
  • She felt panicky when she realized she was lost.
• Panicked (adj): Affected with panic; can be used similarly to "panic-stricken."
  • He sounded panicked on the phone.
• Terrified (adj): Filled with terror; a strong synonym.
  • The terrified child hid under the bed.

Synonyms

• Terrified: Filled with overwhelming fear.
• Horror-stricken: Struck with horror.
• Frightened out of one's wits: Extremely frightened (idiomatic).
• In a panic: Experiencing a sudden uncontrollable fear.

Antonyms

• Calm: Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.
• Composed: Having one's feelings and expression under control.
• Unfazed: Not disconcerted or perturbed.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be scared stiff: To be so frightened that one cannot move.
• To run around like a headless chicken: To act in a frantic, disorganized way because of panic (idiomatic). This describes the behavior of someone who is panic-stricken.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
   • became panicky as the snow deepened
   • felt panicked before each exam
   • trying to keep back the panic-stricken crowd
   • the terrified horse bolted

Từ đồng nghĩa

• panicky
• panicked
• panic-struck
• terrified
• frightened