tonic immobility

noun

A behaviour in which an animal appears to be temporarily paralysed and unresponsive to external stimuli, for example in response to the threat of a predator.

Similar
TIthanatosisplaying dead
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Meanings

nountonic immobility (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyA behaviour in which an animal appears to be temporarily paralysed and unresponsive to external stimuli, for example in response to the threat of a predator.

    Synonyms: TI, thanatosis, playing dead

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA behaviour in which an animal appears to be temporarily paralysed and unresponsive to external stimuli, for example in response to the threat of a predator.

Similar
TIthanatosisplaying dead
Cite this entry
APA

tonic immobility. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tonic%20immobility

MLA

“tonic immobility.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tonic%20immobility. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tonic immobility,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tonic%20immobility.

Source: tonic immobility on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.