fight-or-flight
adjective
: relating to, being, or causing physiological changes in the body (such as an increase in heart rate or dilation of bronchi) in response to stress
epinephrine is a fight-or-flight hormone
a fight-or-flight reaction
Examples of fight-or-flight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Neuroimaging reveals why: Self-criticism activates the brain's threat-defense system, flooding the body with cortisol and triggering fight-or-flight responses.
—
Anna Barnhill, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Mild anxiety or stress: Mild anxiety or stress can trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to faster, shallower breathing (hyperventilation).
—Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025
Sympathetic drive — the fight-or-flight response — works like a gas pedal, while parasympathetic drive provides the brake.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Some fears—like the fight-or-flight response—are essential for survival.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fight-or-flight
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Barnhill, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Mild anxiety or stress: Mild anxiety or stress can trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to faster, shallower breathing (hyperventilation).
—Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025
Sympathetic drive — the fight-or-flight response — works like a gas pedal, while parasympathetic drive provides the brake.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Some fears—like the fight-or-flight response—are essential for survival.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fight-or-flight
Cite this Entry
“Fight-or-flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight-or-flight. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share