panicked
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective 1. Overcome by sudden and overwhelming fear: Describes a state of being where one is suddenly and completely controlled by fear, often leading to desperate, unthinking, or irrational reactions. 2. Characterized by or resulting from panic: Describes a condition, atmosphere, or action that is a direct consequence of panic.
Usage Examples
- As a descriptive adjective:
- She had a panicked look in her eyes when she realized she was lost.
- The panicked crowd rushed toward the exits.
- As a subject complement (following a linking verb like 'be', 'become', 'feel'):
- The residents became panicked by the sound of the sirens.
- I felt panicked when I couldn't find my passport.
Advanced Usage
- "panicked at the thought of": Used to specify the cause of the panic.
- He was panicked at the thought of failing the important interview.
- "in a panicked voice/state": Describes the manner or condition in which something is done.
- She shouted for help in a panicked voice.
Variants and Related Words
- Panic (n/v): The noun form meaning a sudden, overpowering terror, or the verb meaning to feel or cause to feel panic.
- Noun: The news caused widespread panic.
- Verb: There's no need to panic; we have plenty of time.
- Panicky (adj): Similar to 'panicked', but can sometimes imply a tendency toward panic or a less intense, more nervous state.
- She felt panicky in crowded spaces.
- Panic-stricken (adj): A synonym, often used interchangeably with 'panicked', emphasizing being struck or overcome by panic.
Synonyms
- Terrified: Filled with overwhelming fear.
- Alarmed: Suddenly frightened or disturbed by a sense of danger.
- Frenzied: Wildly excited or uncontrolled, often due to fear or anxiety.
- Hysterical: Deriving from or affected by uncontrolled emotion, such as extreme fear.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- Panic over: To become excessively worried about something (often used in negative constructions).
- Don't panic over the small details.
- Send/Cast into a panic: To cause someone to become panicked.
- The sudden market crash sent investors into a panic.
Related Idioms
- Press/push the panic button: To react to a situation with sudden, excessive fear or alarm.
- It's just a minor setback; there's no need to push the panic button yet.
Adjective
- 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