panic button

noun

: something setting off a precipitous emergency response

there was no pushing of panic buttons at the White House, no rushing of troops—

J. C. Harsch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The resident hit a security panic button, and the woman fled, the police chief said. —

CBS News, 5 Jan. 2023 At worst, they might be tempted to hit the panic button full throttle. —

Natasha Miller, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022 Ring’s latest panic button, a device that can be carried around or mounted on a wall, is cheaper than the previous model. —

Mark Gurman, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2022 Bryant Vincent is only two games into his tenure but isn’t hitting the panic button after a setback on the road. —

Evan Dudley, al, 16 Sep. 2022 Get the biggest stories delivered Pressing any sort of panic button for the Cowboys would be premature at this juncture. —

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2022 The panic button that Montes carries is one of the protection measures offered by the program. —

Diana García, The Arizona Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 The panic button option could bring peace of mind for homes of people who might be vulnerable. —

Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2021 Investors seemed to hit the panic button for the broader exhibition sector when Cineworld warned about a likely restructuring, sending the stocks of its peers lower as well. —

Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'panic button.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.