re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv 
1
a
: directed or turned back on itself
b
: marked by or capable of reflection : reflective
2
: of, relating to, characterized by, or being a relation that exists between an entity and itself
the relation "is equal to" is reflexive but the relation "is the father of" is not
3
: of, relating to, or constituting an action (as in "he perjured himself") directed back on the agent or the grammatical subject
4
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior
Examples of reflexive in a Sentence
Adjective
In “I hurt myself,” the verb “hurt” is reflexive.
In the sentence “We forced ourselves to finish the assignment,” the word “ourselves” is a reflexive pronoun.
For many people, the reflexive response to this kind of demand is to say no.
music that triggers reflexive toe tapping
Recent Examples on the Web
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In the early self-interviews and writings, Mr. Samaras returned frequently to the question of how his reflexive isolation and solipsism could function alongside his equally instinctual exhibitionism and visual extroversion.
—Randy Kennedy, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
But over the last two years, family groups have challenged its reflexive use.
—Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024
The heroic, standalone qualities of Ibsen’s protagonist earn our respect but not our reflexive loyalty.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Including a human factor in review and audit processes adds a layer of critical thinking that makes monitoring for inaccuracies or biases reflexive and consistent.
—Andrew Duncan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
In January 1945, Arthur H. Vandenberg, R-Mich., gave a landmark Senate speech now remembered as the moment when his party finally began to put its reflexive isolationism behind it.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
Today there is a reflexive tendency to think of literature, and also other forms of culture, as an extra, as an ornament, as icing on the cake, as something that is expendable and unnecessary.
—Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 13 Feb. 2024
The industry’s reflexive defensiveness is a product of years of conflict with animal rights activists and a bitter us-vs-them dynamic that often stands in the way of honest and productive discussion about the field and its problems.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
Jonathan Dee, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022
Adjective
Even the most agnostic brains will make quiet and reflexive supplication for protection before crossing a bridge as dramatic as the one that collapsed this week.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In the early self-interviews and writings, Mr. Samaras returned frequently to the question of how his reflexive isolation and solipsism could function alongside his equally instinctual exhibitionism and visual extroversion.
—Randy Kennedy, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
But over the last two years, family groups have challenged its reflexive use.
—Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024
The heroic, standalone qualities of Ibsen’s protagonist earn our respect but not our reflexive loyalty.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Including a human factor in review and audit processes adds a layer of critical thinking that makes monitoring for inaccuracies or biases reflexive and consistent.
—Andrew Duncan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
In January 1945, Arthur H. Vandenberg, R-Mich., gave a landmark Senate speech now remembered as the moment when his party finally began to put its reflexive isolationism behind it.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
Today there is a reflexive tendency to think of literature, and also other forms of culture, as an extra, as an ornament, as icing on the cake, as something that is expendable and unnecessary.
—Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 13 Feb. 2024
The industry’s reflexive defensiveness is a product of years of conflict with animal rights activists and a bitter us-vs-them dynamic that often stands in the way of honest and productive discussion about the field and its problems.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
Noun
Andrew Bevel’s motivation for publishing a memoir goes beyond that reflexive droit du seigneur Ida describes.
—Jonathan Dee, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reflexive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reflexive
Cite this Entry
“Reflexive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflexive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reflexive
1 of 2 adjective
re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv
1
: turned back upon itself
2
: of, relating to, or being an action directed back upon the doer or the grammatical subject
3
: of, relating to, or being a relation which exists between a thing and itself
the relation of equality or "is equal to" is reflexive but the relation "is the parent of" is not
4
: characterized by behavior that occurs automatically without thinking
a reflexive response
reflexively
adverb
reflexive
2 of 2 noun
: a pronoun that refers to the grammatical subject and is the object of the verb
in the sentence "We forced ourselves to finish the assignment," the word "ourselves" is a reflexive
Medical Definition
reflexive
adjective
re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior
also
: relating to or consisting of a reflex
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