reptilian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Meditation—it’s not worth it…meditation activates the reptilian freeze mechanism, so it is counterproductive. What works for me is movement and curiosity.”

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

The species of crocodylomorph roamed Earth about 215 million years ago during the Triassic period and is believed to have been a fast-moving, land-dwelling predator resembling a "reptilian greyhound".

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

The jawbone looked reptilian but had teeth resembling those of dinosaurs.

From Science Daily • Nov. 15, 2025

It turns the human brain into a reptilian one and activates the sympathetic nervous system, putting us into fight-or-flight mode — the same one we can get stuck in when we’re chronically lonely.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2025

By simple movements—a look here, a redirection there—he plays to the reptilian parts of our brain that can’t resist novelty, maybe important stimulation.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel