panic button

noun

: something setting off a precipitous emergency response
there was no pushing of panic buttons at the White House, no rushing of troopsJ. C. Harsch

Examples of panic button in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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During Ruis’ attack against Yates, other inmates heard the commotion and pushed another panic button to alert deputies, according to the complaint. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025 On Election Day, each of the county's 59 polling site coordinators will receive employee badges with panic buttons. Sophia Cai, Axios, 20 Sep. 2024 The water alarm was triggered at 8:16 a.m., and the panic button on the keypad by the front door was activated at 8:55 a.m. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025 Yates kept pressing the panic button in the cell, telling deputies over the intercom that Ruis was going to kill him, according to the complaint. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for panic button

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of panic button was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Panic button.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panic%20button. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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