panic attack

USAGE SUMMARY

Panic attack is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever referring to a sudden, intense feeling of fear, usually accompanied by physical symptoms, such as a rapid heart rate, sweating, and trembling. For example, you could say: "My friend was so overwhelmed with stress that she had a panic attack".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a panic attack.

The New York Times - Sports

He suffered a panic attack.

The New York Times

"Panic attack, mostly," he said.

The New York Times

You get a panic attack.

The New York Times - Arts

That's my panic attack.

The Guardian - Music

Panic attack, Mvula explains.

The Guardian

Panic attack over.

The New York Times - Sports

"I had a mild panic attack.

The New York Times - Sports

But recently SM had a panic attack.

The New York Times - Health

I had an immediate panic attack.

The New York Times

I kind of had a panic attack.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical or psychological writing, ensure the term is used to describe an event that meets diagnostic criteria rather than general nervousness.

Common error

Avoid using "panic attack" as a hyperbole for mild stress or being 'stressed out'. This diminishes the medical significance of the term. If you mean you were simply very worried, consider using "highly anxious" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "panic attack" functions primarily as a compound noun. In the numerous examples provided by Ludwig, it typically serves as the direct object of verbs like 'have', 'suffer', or 'experience'. It identifies a specific medical and psychological phenomenon.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "panic attack" is a highly established and frequently used term in English. Ludwig provides over 60 examples illustrating its versatility across various domains, ranging from high-prestige journalism to peer-reviewed scientific research. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness as a standard noun phrase. Whether used to describe a professional athlete's nerves or a medical study's findings, the term remains the primary way to refer to acute, sudden fear episodes. Writers should be careful to distinguish it from general anxiety, reserving it for moments of intense, physiological disruption to maintain its descriptive power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anxiety attack

often used interchangeably in casual speech though technically different in clinical psychology

episode of intense fear

describes the core experience using more formal and descriptive language

period of acute distress

shifts focus to the psychological pain rather than the physiological sensation

sudden panic

shortens the phrase to the immediate emotional state

paroxysm of fear

uses more literary and dramatic vocabulary to describe the onset

hyperventilation episode

focuses specifically on one of the most common physical symptoms

bout of anxiety

suggests a duration of time rather than just a single momentary event

severe panic

emphasizes the intensity of the emotion without the clinical noun 'attack'

psychological crisis

places the event within a broader context of mental health emergencies

spell of terror

uses more archaic or storytelling language to describe the feeling

FAQs

How do I use "panic attack" in a sentence?

You can use it as the object of a verb, such as "She suffered a panic attack during the exam", or as a subject, like "A panic attack can feel like a physical emergency".

What is a more formal way to say "panic attack"?

In a clinical setting, you might refer to it as an "anxiety episode" or "acute panic".

Is there a difference between an anxiety attack and a "panic attack"?

While often used as synonyms, a panic attack is typically more sudden and intense, whereas an "anxiety attack" usually builds up over time due to excessive worry.

Can "panic attack" be used as a verb?

No, it is a noun phrase. You should use a verb like "suffer", "have", or "experience" before it.