thyrotropin-releasing hormone

noun

thy·​ro·​tro·​pin-re·​leas·​ing hormone ˌthī-rə-ˈtrō-pən-ri-ˈlē-siŋ- How to pronounce thyrotropin-releasing hormone (audio)
: a tripeptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus that stimulates secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone

called also thyrotropin-releasing factor

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thyrotropin-releasing hormone was in 1968

Rhymes for thyrotropin-releasing hormone

See All Rhymes for thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Browse Nearby Words

thyrotropin
thyrotropin-releasing hormone
thyroxine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thyrotropin-releasing hormone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thyrotropin-releasing%20hormone. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

thyrotropin-releasing hormone

noun
: a tripeptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus that stimulates secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland
—abbreviation TRH

called also protirelin, thyrotropin-releasing factor

More from Merriam-Webster on thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All