panic-buyers
Frantic shortage shoppers
Panic-buyers are people who rush to purchase large quantities of goods—especially essentials like food, toilet paper, or fuel—in response to perceived shortages or emergencies.
The behavior often creates the very scarcity it fears: Panic-buyers stripped the shelves bare before the hurricane hit.
The term became prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accumulating supplies in quantity
- overbuyingPurchasing in excess
- amassingCollecting in quantity
- accumulatingGathering in increasing quantity
- stashingConcealing for safekeeping
squirreling · preppers · rationing · overstock · surplus · cache · reserve · excess
Deficient supply of necessities
- depletionReduction of supply
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
- unavailabilityState of being unobtainable
- undersupplyInadequate provision of goods
deficit · dearth · restocking · backorder · allocation · supply-chain · distribution · essentials
Global disease outbreak
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
quarantine · evacuation · war · recession · shutdown · curfew · uncertainty · announcement
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- worryTroubled mental state
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
apprehension · nervousness · alarm · trepidation · unease · desperation · irrationality · contagion
Large retail food outlets
- shoppersPeople purchasing goods
- customersPeople who purchase goods
- queuesOrderly waiting arrangements
- checkoutPayment completion process
carts · aisles · cashiers · warehouses · pharmacies · wholesalers · stockists · suppliers
stockpiling
Accumulating supplies in quantity
- overbuyingPurchasing in excess
- amassingCollecting in quantity
- accumulatingGathering in increasing quantity
stashing · squirreling · preppers · rationing · overstock · surplus · cache · reserve · excess · grab-and-go
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
- depletionReduction of supply
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
- unavailabilityState of being unobtainable
undersupply · deficit · dearth · restocking · backorder · allocation · supply-chain · distribution · essentials · necessities
pandemic
Global disease outbreak
lockdown · quarantine · evacuation · war · recession · shutdown · curfew · uncertainty · announcement · misinformation
fear
Emotional response to threat
dread · apprehension · nervousness · alarm · trepidation · unease · desperation · irrationality · contagion · groupthink
supermarkets
Large retail food outlets
checkout · carts · aisles · cashiers · warehouses · pharmacies · wholesalers · stockists · suppliers · retailers
toilet-paper
Bathroom hygiene tissue
- masksFace-covering disguises
- disinfectantAgent destroying surface pathogens
- riceStaple cereal grain
pasta · flour · medicines · batteries · generators · fuel · bread · milk · diapers