- pronunciation:
- pae
nihk
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: |
noun |
definition: |
a sudden strong fear or anger that causes people to act without thinking.
Because of their panic, many people were killed in the fire.- similar words:
- alarm, fear, terror
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related words: |
horror |
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part of speech: |
verb |
inflections: |
panics, panicking, panicked |
definition: |
to feel or be overcome by a sudden, strong fear.
She panics whenever she has to give a speech.
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derivation: |
panicky (adj.) |
Our word
panic comes from
Pan, the name of the Greek god of woods and shepherds. Pan was believed to be the cause of sudden, wild fear that could not otherwise be explained.