panicked voice

USAGE SUMMARY

"panicked voice" is an acceptable phrase in written English and can be used whenever you want to describe someone's voice as expressing panic or fear.
For example: "I heard a panicked voice coming from the kitchen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"Your son Willie's been shot," said the slurred, panicked voice on the phone.

The New York Times

A panicked voice from the hallway intruded.

The New Yorker

In her panicked voice she yells to her father that she has lost her hearing.

The New York Times

And I was just, like" — she affected a panicked voice — " 'I want to call my mom!

The New Yorker

And I was just, like"—she affected a panicked voice—" 'I want to call my mom!

The New Yorker

"What do you mean, 'palliative'?" Peter asked in a panicked voice.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Robert Cary-WIlliams "I'm really, really busy," announces Robert Cary-Winliams, in the wired but not quite panicking voice of someone who was up working until five o'clock in the morning, overslept, and is now running somewhat behind schedule.

The Guardian

I dive into the lobby of an office building where others are already taking shelter, but the noise of wailing and panicking voices unnerves me and I need to get out.

The Guardian

And yet, here she is on Roman's Revenge, the second track of her debut album, rapping in a thrilling, quivering, edge-of-panic voice that apparently signifies she's slipped into a Slim Shadyish persona called Roman Zolanski: "I'm starting to feel like a Dungeon Dragon!

The Guardian - Music

One psychiatrist picked up the phone one day to a panicked, unidentified voice warning of an impending attack at a certain foreign embassy.

The New York Times - Magazine

Now, with college graduate and professional jobs increasingly at stake, panicked elites begin to voice concern.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "panicked voice" to effectively convey a character's immediate fear or distress in narrative writing. It's a concise way to show, rather than tell, the character's emotional state.

Common error

While "panicked voice" is effective, overuse can diminish its impact. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "fearful tone" or descriptions of physical manifestations like a "trembling voice" to keep your writing fresh.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "panicked voice" functions primarily as a descriptive element, modifying a noun. It is used to indicate the emotional state of the speaker, characterizing their speech as affected by panic, according to Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "panicked voice" effectively communicates intense fear or distress through someone's speech. Grammatically sound, it functions as a descriptive element, primarily found in News & Media contexts. While its frequency is uncommon, Ludwig confirms its validity and clarity, offering alternatives like "fearful voice" or "anxious voice" to diversify your writing. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain its impact and avoid overuse. To conclude, the use of the panicked voice is best placed when the objective is to transmit a sense of urgency to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

voice filled with panic

Rephrases the original to emphasize the presence of panic in the voice.

fearful voice

Replaces "panicked" with "fearful", emphasizing the emotion of fear.

voice betraying panic

Highlights that the voice reveals an underlying state of panic.

anxious voice

Substitutes "panicked" with "anxious", focusing on worry and unease.

voice full of anxiety

Uses "anxiety" instead of "panic", describing a voice overwhelmed with worry.

distressed voice

Uses "distressed" instead of "panicked", highlighting the speaker's suffering and urgency.

frantic voice

Replaces "panicked" with "frantic", suggesting a state of wild desperation.

trembling voice

Focuses on the physical manifestation of panic in the voice.

hysterical voice

Uses "hysterical" instead of "panicked", indicating uncontrolled emotion and agitation.

agitated tone

Shifts the focus to "tone" instead of "voice", highlighting a disturbed and uneasy manner of speaking.

FAQs

How can I use "panicked voice" in a sentence?

You can use "panicked voice" to describe how someone speaks when they are experiencing panic. For example: "I heard a "panicked voice" coming from the other room, so I rushed to see what was wrong."

What are some alternatives to saying "panicked voice"?

Instead of "panicked voice", you could use phrases like "fearful voice", "anxious voice", or "distressed voice" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a voice filled with panic" instead of "panicked voice"?

Yes, "a voice filled with panic" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative to "panicked voice". Both phrases effectively describe a voice that conveys a sense of panic.

What does it mean when someone has a "panicked voice"?

A "panicked voice" indicates that someone is speaking in a way that conveys intense fear, anxiety, or distress. It suggests that they are in a state of panic and their voice reflects that emotional state.