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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While one judge has temporarily blocked the foreign assistance freeze, requiring restoration of program funding, Judge Nichols determined that emergency communication provisions, including two-way radios and a panic button app, adequately address safety concerns for overseas staff. Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 In Mexico, the migrant panic button plan has been greeted with considerable skepticism. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Every press of that panic button, Alyssa is saving lives. Melissa Chan, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2024 They are also required to ensure their premises are clean, sanitary and equipped with a panic button, and are prohibited from dismissing an employee who refuses a client or a specific act. Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Dec. 2024 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 10 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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