safety valve
noun
plural safety valves
1
: a valve (as for a steam boiler) that allows gas or liquid under excessive pressure to escape in a controlled manner
2
: an outlet for pent-up energy or emotion
3
: something that relieves the pressure of overcrowding
Examples of safety valve in a Sentence
His hobbies act as a safety valve, relieving some of the pressure he feels from his job.
Recent Examples on the Web
The system lawmakers adopted allows modifications to any guardrail, if the governor and three-fifths of the legislature agree, like the safety valve built into the original spending cap.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2024
In a system in which so much information ends up classified, selective leaking might come to seem like a safety valve for when certain matters of national importance need to get out.
—Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2023
Much like the main character moving to the country to escape the stressors of modern life, Stardew Valley reviews paint the picture of a userbase finding a reliable safety valve to blow off steam in its work-like gameplay loops.
—Ian Walker |, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024
But then, with little notice, an April 2023 Editor Software ToS update removed that safety valve entirely.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for safety valve 
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2024
In a system in which so much information ends up classified, selective leaking might come to seem like a safety valve for when certain matters of national importance need to get out.
—Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2023
Much like the main character moving to the country to escape the stressors of modern life, Stardew Valley reviews paint the picture of a userbase finding a reliable safety valve to blow off steam in its work-like gameplay loops.
—Ian Walker |, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024
But then, with little notice, an April 2023 Editor Software ToS update removed that safety valve entirely.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for safety valve
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safety valve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near safety valve
Cite this Entry
“Safety valve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety%20valve. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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