PANIC Sudden overwhelming fear causing wildly unthinking behavior; a state of extreme anxiety or terror. In word games, PANIC earns {gameData[selectedGame as keyof typeof gameData].points} base points.
Yes. PANIC is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 9 points in Scrabble, 12 in Words With Friends and 11 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | P | A | N | I | C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
Panic erupts when fear overwhelms reason, triggering humanity's most primal survival responses. This sudden, contagious terror can transform crowds into stampedes, markets into crashes, and rational minds into chaos. From ancient battlefield routes to modern financial meltdowns, panic has shaped history through its power to dissolve social order in seconds. Understanding panic—its triggers, spread, and management—remains crucial for public safety and personal well-being.
The physiology of panic reveals our evolutionary heritage. When triggered, the amygdala hijacks rational thought, flooding the body with adrenaline and cortisol. Heart rate spikes, breathing becomes shallow, and the prefrontal cortex—our planning center—goes offline. This "fight-flight-freeze" response once saved our ancestors from predators but proves maladaptive in modern contexts. Panic attacks affect 11% of people annually, manifesting as overwhelming physical symptoms without actual danger.
History chronicles panic's devastating power: the 1929 Wall Street Crash began with panicked selling; the 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast triggered mass hysteria; the 2020 toilet paper shortage demonstrated pandemic panic buying. Yet panic also drives innovation—fire safety regulations emerged from theater panics, building codes from nightclub stampedes, and emergency protocols from crowd disasters. Each tragedy teaches us how to prevent the next panic-driven catastrophe.
PANIC originates from the Greek god Pan, ruler of wilderness and shepherds, whose sudden appearances allegedly caused irrational terror in travelers—"panic fear." The Greek "panikos" meant "of Pan," describing the groundless fright attributed to the god's influence. French "panique" entered English in the early 1600s, initially meaning supernatural terror. The financial sense emerged in the 1760s with market "panics." The verb form developed in the 1820s, while "panic attack" as a medical term appeared in the 1960s, reflecting psychology's growing understanding of anxiety disorders.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of PANIC.
Hooks: no front hooks; back PANICS.
Words inside PANIC: 23 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: PICACAPPACPICCAINNIPAPAINPIANPINACANNAPNIP. See all words from PANIC.