as in reflex
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of Pavlovian
When the needle finally drops, the effect is Pavlovian.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 25 July 2025
The result is a political Pavlovian response where even modest tax reforms come with a side of millionaire exodus think-pieces.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The theme is the same Pavlovian ring tone as its dating show predecessor, but off-kilter — the Wario to Love Island’s Mario.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 July 2025
The response was Pavlovian, the practice ingrained in her by her own mother, who spent much of her time pacifying her insecure and whiny husband.
—Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
George Lucas’ 1977 space saga is pure Pavlovian pop rush and knows how to modernize creaky B-movie genre elements for maximum audience reaction.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
Drivers build lives around parking: the work shifts altered to align with the alternate-side-rotation hours, the keys always in the pocket, the Pavlovian alertness at the chirp of an unlocking car.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Alison Herman, Variety, 25 July 2025
The result is a political Pavlovian response where even modest tax reforms come with a side of millionaire exodus think-pieces.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The theme is the same Pavlovian ring tone as its dating show predecessor, but off-kilter — the Wario to Love Island’s Mario.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 July 2025
The response was Pavlovian, the practice ingrained in her by her own mother, who spent much of her time pacifying her insecure and whiny husband.
—Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
George Lucas’ 1977 space saga is pure Pavlovian pop rush and knows how to modernize creaky B-movie genre elements for maximum audience reaction.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
Drivers build lives around parking: the work shifts altered to align with the alternate-side-rotation hours, the keys always in the pocket, the Pavlovian alertness at the chirp of an unlocking car.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
-
Every time missiles fly over the Middle East, the same reflex kicks in: Traders panic, headlines scream about $100 oil, and columnists invoke the 1973 Arab oil embargo.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
There was a reflex stop on a David Kämpf flash rebound in the second period.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
To really pick at this raw nerve, Menzies returns to narrate these passages from Frank’s book and taunt Jamie’s subconscious.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The study even highlights the intricate mental processes involved in the simple act of lifting an arm to draw—an action that requires conscious intention, subconscious planning, and motor execution.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bracketed by a song about ICE disappearing US citizens and another song with a visceral description of torture, this erotic vision of national unity is more than simply titillating.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In ‘Leviticus,’ Adrian Chiarella harnesses horror’s visceral power to confront homophobia with intelligence and imaginative flair, transforming a story of young love under siege into a gripping, urgent debut.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the protagonist Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1968), Duane Jones unveiled a distinct facet of pre-conditioned Black martyrdom.—
Malik Peay,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2023
-
The new formula is infused with a luscious blend of flower oils so that lashes feel conditioned and supple to the touch.—
Daisy Maldonado,
SELF,
13 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
An imperfect but useful analogy might be subliminal messaging, but for AI.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Beliefs and routines tug at one another as the subliminal Moon in your 9th House of Expansion squares companionable Venus in your 6th House of Work.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That scope, combined with rapidly evolving technology and expanding workplace coverage, has moved fertility from a private, reactive experience to one defined by data, planning, and proactive decision-making.—
Allison Palmer
March 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Certain reactive pans can interact with your ingredients, leading to an off-taste.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Officers responded to reports of an unconscious 42-year-old man lying in the grass near Cottonwood Creek Trail Friday evening.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The panel watched footage of an unconscious 17-year-old girl being raped by Oren Alexander, which the public was not permitted to see.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Gabriel Pec was tagged with a second yellow card four minutes later and forced to exit after being shown the automatic red card.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile Fairfield and Quinnipiac, both 19-1, are battling for the MAAC’s automatic tournament bid.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
