Pavlovian
adjective
Pav·lov·i·an
pav-ˈlȯ-vē-ən 
-ˈlō-;
-ˈlȯ-fē-
Examples of Pavlovian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Publications from the Times on down employ clickbait headlines that treat you like a starving rat in a Pavlovian experiment.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
The concept became so ingrained at Villanova that the word became near Pavlovian.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Not only does Pavlovian enter with the most starts (10), its owner and trainer have twice won the Derby together.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
O’Neill, who also has Pavlovian as a starter, named Cristian Torres to ride Robusta because Emisael Jaramillo had commitments at Santa Anita.
—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
These sights have come to inspire a Pavlovian response from generations of children, and — no less powerfully — a Proustian one from their parents.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
The chestnut colt won the Louisiana Derby in March with fellow Derby contenders Pavlovian and Golden Tempo in second and third, respectively.
—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Meanwhile, Emerging Market won his February debut at Tampa Bay Downs by 1 3/4 lengths before beating Pavlovian by a head in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21.
—
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Someone suggests aguachile, a word that makes Top Chef fans everywhere — or maybe just me — shudder in Pavlovian irritation given its ubiquity in this competition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
The concept became so ingrained at Villanova that the word became near Pavlovian.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Not only does Pavlovian enter with the most starts (10), its owner and trainer have twice won the Derby together.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
O’Neill, who also has Pavlovian as a starter, named Cristian Torres to ride Robusta because Emisael Jaramillo had commitments at Santa Anita.
—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
These sights have come to inspire a Pavlovian response from generations of children, and — no less powerfully — a Proustian one from their parents.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
The chestnut colt won the Louisiana Derby in March with fellow Derby contenders Pavlovian and Golden Tempo in second and third, respectively.
—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Meanwhile, Emerging Market won his February debut at Tampa Bay Downs by 1 3/4 lengths before beating Pavlovian by a head in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21.
—
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Someone suggests aguachile, a word that makes Top Chef fans everywhere — or maybe just me — shudder in Pavlovian irritation given its ubiquity in this competition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pavlovian. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Pavlovian
adjective
Pav·lov·ian
pav-ˈlȯ-vē-ən
-ˈlō-; -ˈlȯ-fē-
-ˈlō-; -ˈlȯ-fē-
: of or relating to Ivan Pavlov or to his work and theories
Pavlovian conditioning
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