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
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For example, a person might intend to be courageous (cognition), but fear (affect) and a fight-or-flight response (physiology) can hinder action (behavior).
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Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
But when the body’s fight-or-flight survival response doesn’t let up, temporary changes such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat and edginess can give way to headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability, and the debilitating paralysis symptomatic of chronic anxiety or depression.
—Sara Sidner, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
What’s more, the development has tipped her over to Red Feather’s side of the fight-or-flight choice.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025
This helps reduce the fight-or-flight response to stress and lowers cortisol levels, creating a feeling of safety and comfort.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
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Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
But when the body’s fight-or-flight survival response doesn’t let up, temporary changes such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat and edginess can give way to headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability, and the debilitating paralysis symptomatic of chronic anxiety or depression.
—Sara Sidner, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
What’s more, the development has tipped her over to Red Feather’s side of the fight-or-flight choice.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025
This helps reduce the fight-or-flight response to stress and lowers cortisol levels, creating a feeling of safety and comfort.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fight-or-flight
Dictionary Entries Near 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 27 Jan. 2025.
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