instinctive

adjective

in·stinc·tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv How to pronounce instinctive (audio)

: of, relating to, or being instinct

: prompted by natural instinct or propensity : arising spontaneously

an instinctive fear of innovation

V. L. Parrington

instinctively adverb

Example Sentences

Cats have an instinctive desire to hunt. the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children

Recent Examples on the Web His otherworldly bat speed, exquisite timing, power, and hand-eye coordination were instinctive.

Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 Even more groundbreaking is that urban cowboys embody an instinctive flair for channeling the needs of how to flex this style with accuracy and purpose.

Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 Richard Leakey, who died in January and was the son of Louis and Mary, said Mr. Kamoya had an instinctive talent for finding fossils, whether elephants or humans.

Phil Davison, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Sightlines forward, across the fendercrests, and to the sides bring instinctive, subconscious connection.

Mark Ewing, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Kennedy was born with an instinctive curiosity and love of food.

Christopher Sherman, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Yet, speaking up wasn’t easy or instinctive for her.

Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 Kennedy was born with an instinctive curiosity and love of food.

Christopher Sherman, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Only with Russo’s improvisational, instinctive brilliance could the crowd — could the players — relax.

New York Times, 26 July 2022 See More

instinctive

adjective

as in automatic

done instantly and without conscious thought or decision the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

automatic
reflex
mechanical
instinctual
spontaneous
robotic
mechanic
simple
sudden
natural
involuntary
quick
unwilling
knee-jerk
unconscious
abrupt
impulsive
visceral
reactive
conditioned
unreasoned
subliminal
unforced
casual
blind
inadvertent
impromptu
unintentional
snap
improvised
unintended
unwitting
random
unpremeditated
Pavlovian
ready
impetuous
unrehearsed
unconsidered
extemporaneous
hasty
haphazard
rash
offhand
unprepared
unprompted
unstudied
unplanned
extempore
chance
mindless
chancy
off-the-cuff
offhanded
spur-of-the-moment
ad-lib
hit-or-miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

conscious
deliberate
voluntary
intentional
volitional
wilful
willful
prepared
intended
careful
refined
calculated
willed
cultivated
rehearsed
designed
predetermined
thoughtful
nonmechanical
reasoned
meticulous
projected
foresighted
aforethought
measured
considered
studied
advised
forethoughtful

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of instinctive are automatic, impulsive, mechanical, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

In some situations, the words automatic and instinctive are roughly equivalent. However, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

The meanings of impulsive and instinctive largely overlap; however, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

The words mechanical and instinctive can be used in similar contexts, but mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

While the synonyms spontaneous and instinctive are close in meaning, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

单词	instinctive
释义	instinctive adjective in·stinc·tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 1 : of, relating to, or being instinct 2 : prompted by natural instinct or propensity : arising spontaneously an instinctive fear of innovation V. L. Parrington instinctively adverb Synonyms automatic instinctual involuntary knee-jerk mechanic mechanical robotic spontaneous See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Cats have an instinctive desire to hunt. the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children Recent Examples on the Web His otherworldly bat speed, exquisite timing, power, and hand-eye coordination were instinctive. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 Even more groundbreaking is that urban cowboys embody an instinctive flair for channeling the needs of how to flex this style with accuracy and purpose. Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 Richard Leakey, who died in January and was the son of Louis and Mary, said Mr. Kamoya had an instinctive talent for finding fossils, whether elephants or humans. Phil Davison, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Sightlines forward, across the fendercrests, and to the sides bring instinctive, subconscious connection. Mark Ewing, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Kennedy was born with an instinctive curiosity and love of food. Christopher Sherman, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Yet, speaking up wasn’t easy or instinctive for her. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 Kennedy was born with an instinctive curiosity and love of food. Christopher Sherman, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Only with Russo’s improvisational, instinctive brilliance could the crowd — could the players — relax. New York Times, 26 July 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition instinctive adjective in·stinc·tive in-ˈstiŋk-tiv : of or relating to instinct : resulting from instinct instinctive behavior Medical Definition instinctive adjective in·stinc·tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 1 : of, relating to, or being instinct 2 : derived from or prompted by instinct an instinctive fear instinctive adjective as in automatic done instantly and without conscious thought or decision the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance automatic reflex mechanical instinctual spontaneous robotic mechanic simple sudden natural involuntary quick unwilling knee-jerk unconscious abrupt impulsive visceral reactive conditioned unreasoned subliminal unforced casual blind inadvertent impromptu unintentional snap improvised unintended unwitting random unpremeditated Pavlovian ready impetuous unrehearsed unconsidered extemporaneous hasty haphazard rash offhand unprepared unprompted unstudied unplanned extempore chance mindless chancy off-the-cuff offhanded spur-of-the-moment ad-lib hit-or-miss Antonyms & Near Antonyms conscious deliberate voluntary intentional volitional wilful willful prepared intended careful refined calculated willed cultivated rehearsed designed predetermined thoughtful nonmechanical reasoned meticulous projected foresighted aforethought measured considered studied advised forethoughtful See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of instinctive are automatic, impulsive, mechanical, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will. blinking is an instinctive reaction In some situations, the words automatic and instinctive are roughly equivalent. However, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response. his denial was automatic The meanings of impulsive and instinctive largely overlap; however, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment. impulsive acts of violence The words mechanical and instinctive can be used in similar contexts, but mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response. a mechanical teaching method While the synonyms spontaneous and instinctive are close in meaning, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness. a spontaneous burst of applause
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instinctive

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser