Cool MateAnxiety vs Panic
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Anxiety
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Panic
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Anxiety
| Anxiety | Panic | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈpænɪk//🇺🇸 //ˈpænɪk// |
| Meaning | A feeling of worry or fear. | A sudden feeling of fear or anxiety. |
| Example | Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams. | When the fire alarm went off, there was panic in the crowd. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety, acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety | feel panic, sense panic, cause panic, in a panic, overcome with panic |
| Antonyms | calm, peace, serenity | calm, composure, peace |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'anxiety' with 'anxious' - remember 'anxiety' is the noun., Using 'anxiety' to describe simple stress, when it's more about a deeper, chronic feeling., Mispronouncing it as 'anxity' instead of 'an-xi-ety'. | Confused with 'anxiety'—panic is more sudden and intense., Using 'panics' incorrectly as a verb form., Overusing in casual conversations when fear isn't intense. |
| Usage notes | Use 'anxiety' in situations discussing mental health or stress. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may be too intense for light conversation. | Use 'panic' to describe intense, sudden fear. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it lightly in serious situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Anxiety vs Panic
What's the difference between Anxiety and Panic?
Anxiety: A feeling of worry or fear. Panic: A sudden feeling of fear or anxiety.
Which is more common: Anxiety and Panic?
Anxiety is the most common in everyday English.
Are Anxiety and Panic the same CEFR level?
Anxiety: B2, Panic: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Anxiety and Panic?
Anxiety: noun, Panic: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Anxiety: Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams. Panic: When the fire alarm went off, there was panic in the crowd.
Can I use Anxiety and Panic interchangeably?
Not always. Anxiety and Panic are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.