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
Stepping into a room that hot triggers an immediate stress reaction, activating the sympathetic arm of the nervous system, the fight-or-flight response.
—
Will Stone, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
Now, adrenaline is a different hormone that regulates the fight-or-flight response.
—Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2026
This allows an athlete like Shiffrin to override the fight-or-flight response.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
The aim, it is explained, is to stimulate his parasympathetic nervous system — to remove the fight-or-flight response activated by racing, to help the brain switch off.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fight-or-flight
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Will Stone, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
Now, adrenaline is a different hormone that regulates the fight-or-flight response.
—Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2026
This allows an athlete like Shiffrin to override the fight-or-flight response.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
The aim, it is explained, is to stimulate his parasympathetic nervous system — to remove the fight-or-flight response activated by racing, to help the brain switch off.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
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 9 Mar. 2026.
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