panic attack

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an intense attack of anxiety characterized by feelings of impending doom and trembling, sweating, pounding heart, and other physical symptoms.

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panic attack British  

noun

1. an episode of acute and disabling anxiety associated with such physical symptoms as hyperventilation and sweating See also panic disorder

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Example Sentences

On the main stage, May Habib, chief executive of an AI platform called Writer, told the audience that Fortune 500 bosses are having a "collective panic attack" on the subject.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Irish filmmaker John Kelly, who specializes in animation, had a panic attack on an airplane while going through endless flagged emails.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

At one point the immersion in words triggered a panic attack, “like I was hearing voices.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Now a bigger fan than ever, Amanda jokes that the famous theme song makes her have a "little panic attack" at the thought of it happening again.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

I’d been on the edge of a panic attack, thinking that I’d lose her.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• spasm