endorphins

Cultural  

1. Substances produced by the brain that have painkilling and tranquillizing effects on the body. Endorphins are thought to be similar to morphine and are usually released by the brain during times of extreme body stress. The release of endorphins may explain why trauma victims sometimes cannot feel the pain associated with their injuries.

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Example Sentences

Researchers in the late 1970s found that after patients had their molars extracted, an IV saline drip provided pain relief through the body’s natural ability to produce endorphins.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2026

Cardio is not just good for my heart, but is a great emotional release and gets my endorphins going.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

I tend toward depression and anxiety, so dancing is an easy way to immediately get your endorphins and it doesn’t feel like as much of a demand as going for a jog.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

The neurochemicals involved in this process are different than those mediating habit formation and include a chemical messenger called noradrenaline and internally produced opioids such as endorphins.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2025

And so I run harder, trying to stop thinking, turn off my mind, get the endorphins flowing, the heart pounding, and work off what I couldn’t while sitting on the bench.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick