: readily predictable : automatic
knee-jerk reactions
also, disapproving
: reacting in a readily predictable way
The man was such a bleeding-heart knee-jerk liberal that you could predict the rest of the column after reading the first sentence. —
Andrew M. Greeley
Andrew M. Greeley
: an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the patella
Examples of knee-jerk in a Sentence
Adjective
a colleague known for her knee-jerk rejection of any proposal that she didn't originate
Recent Examples on the Web
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
But whatever form the next knee-jerk grievance takes, the NFL isn’t about to surrender the bag just because a bunch of malcontents threaten to take their custom elsewhere.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Flynn’s suggestion to move the rowdy Southie parade downtown is a knee jerk reaction to appease the upscale yuppie families and other residents who have taken over the traditional working class Irish American neighborhood.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The all-too-frequent xenophobic knee-jerk reaction to Latin acts is often triggered by language alone.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
But whatever form the next knee-jerk grievance takes, the NFL isn’t about to surrender the bag just because a bunch of malcontents threaten to take their custom elsewhere.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Gauger also needs to establish trust quickly, both internally and externally, because the leadership merry-go-round will inevitably lead customers and staff to wonder whether this is the just the latest knee jerk switch in direction before Gap Inc. switches once again.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Flynn’s suggestion to move the rowdy Southie parade downtown is a knee jerk reaction to appease the upscale yuppie families and other residents who have taken over the traditional working class Irish American neighborhood.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knee-jerk. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share