para·sym·pa·thet·ic
ˌper-ə-ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-tik 
ˌpa-rə-
: of, relating to, being, or acting on the parasympathetic nervous system
1
: a parasympathetic nerve
Examples of parasympathetic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Melanie Thernstrom,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
The goal is to activate parasympathetic pathways tied to calming the stress response, improving heart rate variability and supporting relaxation.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Womensmedia,
Forbes,
15 Apr. 2021
But purposeful breathing can trigger your parasympathetic system, or the part of your autonomic nervous system that opposes the fight-flight-freeze response.
—
Emily Shiffer,
SELF,
3 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for parasympathetic
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Adjective
Orgasms also activate parasympathetic pathways that promote deeper and longer sleep.
—
Melanie Thernstrom,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
The goal is to activate parasympathetic pathways tied to calming the stress response, improving heart rate variability and supporting relaxation.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Noun
Parasympathetic has two other states though- the rest and digest and according to the Polyvagal Theory, the ventral vagal branch of the parasympathetic which is social engagement.
—
Womensmedia,
Forbes,
15 Apr. 2021
But purposeful breathing can trigger your parasympathetic system, or the part of your autonomic nervous system that opposes the fight-flight-freeze response.
—
Emily Shiffer,
SELF,
3 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for parasympathetic
Cite this Entry
“Parasympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasympathetic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
parasympathetic
1 of 2 adjective
para·sym·pa·thet·ic
ˌpar-ə-ˌsim-pə-ˈthet-ik
: of, relating to, being, or acting on the parasympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic fibers of the vascular wall
parasympathetic drugs
parasympathetic
2 of 2 noun1
: a parasympathetic nerve
this sacral group of parasympathetics supplies fibers to the external genitalia—A. C. Guyton
A. C. GuytonLove words? Need even more definitions?
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