pressure point

noun

Definition of pressure point

1a : an area on the body sensitive to pressure: such as

(1) : a discrete point on the body that when pressed causes pain The technique involves using pressure points along the jaw to cause pain and induce temporary paralysis of the jaw.— Margaret Harding

(2) : a point on the body to which pressure is applied (as in acupressure or reflexology) for therapeutic purposes … an ancient Chinese art and science that uses pressure points in the feet and hands to relax and revitalize the entire body. — Vogue

b : a point on the body where a blood vessel (such as the femoral artery) can be compressed against an underlying bone to slow blood flow and control bleeding … begin controlling bleeding by pressing on pressure points or by applying tourniquets.— Shakava Andres

c : a region of the body where a static position tends to cause circulatory deficiency and the development of bedsores Pressure points of the human body when lying down in bed receive poor blood circulation, which causes the sore.— Mike Cote

2 : a sensitive critical issue or matter that can be exploited for one's advantage political pressure points

Examples of pressure point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the company’s emphasis on its streaming business could become a pressure point as consumers shift their behavior amid high inflation and more options of where to spend their entertainment budgets, analysts say. — Robbie Whelan, WSJ, 11 May 2022 Lightweight frames are better suited for a softer mattress, so the body can sink into the mattress rather than floating on top, allowing for support and pressure point relief. — Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 28 Apr. 2022 Extensor tendonitis is most often caused by lacing your shoes too tightly or having an ill-fitting shoe, in which case the lace creates a pressure point along the top of the foot. — Jeff Gaudette, Outside Online, 12 Oct. 2021 That litigation provides one pressure point for incentivizing investments out of the fossil sector. — Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2021 Hospitals’ biggest pressure point so far during the omicron surge has been staffing. — Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Jan. 2022 And the end of the nationwide eviction moratorium looms as a major pressure point that could push vulnerable families back into crisis. — Ashraf Khalil, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Oct. 2021 And the end of the nationwide eviction moratorium looms as a major pressure point that could push vulnerable families back into crisis. — Ashraf Khalil, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2021 Congress has a record of punting its toughest priorities until the end of the year, with leaders using the threat of forcing members to stay in Washington over the holidays as a pressure point to get things done. — Jennifer Haberkorn, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021 See More

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

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Last Updated

14 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Pressure point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressure%20point. Accessed 18 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for pressure point

pressure point

noun

Medical Definition of pressure point

1 : a region of the body in which the distribution of soft and skeletal parts is such that a static position (as of a part in a cast or of a bedridden person) tends to cause circulatory deficiency and necrosis due to local compression of blood vessels Saggy mattresses invite bedsores. One of the best preventive steps for a bedridden patient is use of the special eggcrate foam mattresses that distribute patient weight more evenly softening major pressure points.— Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News — compare bedsore

2 : a discrete point on the body to which pressure is applied (as in acupressure or reflexology) for therapeutic purposes

3 : a point on the body where a blood vessel (as the brachial or femoral artery) can be compressed against an underlying bone to slow blood flow and control bleeding Even before you leave the water, begin controlling bleeding by pressing on pressure points or by applying tourniquets.— Shakava Andres, The Florida Times-Union