diff --git a/library/std/src/panic.rs b/library/std/src/panic.rs
index 06ce66c10f7e..9a756e4bbb4d 100644
--- a/library/std/src/panic.rs
+++ b/library/std/src/panic.rs
@@ -23,17 +23,17 @@ pub use crate::panicking::{set_hook, take_hook};
 #[stable(feature = "panic_hooks", since = "1.10.0")]
 pub use core::panic::{Location, PanicInfo};
 
-/// Panic the current thread, with the given payload as the panic message.
+/// Panic the current thread with the given message as the panic payload.
 ///
-/// This supports an arbitrary panic payload, instead of just (formatted) strings.
+/// The message can be of any (`Any + Send`) type, not just strings.
 ///
-/// The message is attached as a `Box<'static + Any + Send>`, which can be
-/// accessed using [`PanicInfo::payload`].
+/// The message is wrapped in a `Box<'static + Any + Send>`, which can be
+/// accessed later using [`PanicInfo::payload`].
 ///
 /// See the [`panic!`] macro for more information about panicking.
 #[unstable(feature = "panic_box", issue = "none")]
 #[inline]
-pub fn panic_box<M: Any + Send>(msg: M) -> ! {
+pub fn panic_any<M: Any + Send>(msg: M) -> ! {
     crate::panicking::begin_panic(msg);
 }