as in reflex
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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
-
Or just a reflex mean-reversion trade in some laggard sectors at a time when the AI theme has become more fragmented and treacherous?—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
-
As a result, reflex time — a mechanic that emulated the slow-motion gunfights of Hard Boiled or The Matrix, or bullet time from Remedy’s Max Payne (2001) — would be a defining aspect of F.E.A.R.’s gameplay.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
However, in November, Zubimendi revealed a more subconscious benefit to playing chess.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
At the same time, Neptune enters Aries on January 26th, activating your spirituality, healing, and subconscious realm.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Stewart has characterized the film as a lyrical battle cry, designed to be a visceral experience for the audience that mirrors the subconscious ways memory lives within the human body.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2026
-
For this year’s Fashion Icon honoree at the WWD Style Awards, style is deeply personal, visceral and often defined by the people who were part of each moment.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 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
-
Those in the public eye are not immune to society’s subliminal, and now not-so-subliminal, messaging about bodies.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
6 Dec. 2025
-
The popularity of self-checkout, then, could suggest a subliminal shift in some shoppers’ priorities—an aversion to waiting might be outweighed these days by a reluctance to engage with other people.—
Valerie Trapp,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
On the metal surface, PMS and chloride ions (Cl⁻) are activated, producing highly reactive oxidants such as singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Candida is often responsible for most yeast infections with the majority of species reactive to treatment.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
He was hospitalized, cleared, returned to a jail cell, then found unconscious that afternoon, and succumbed to his injuries, according to the Contra Costa County sheriff’s office.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Metcalf remained unconscious when firefighters left the hospital.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Membership is automatic for first-time guests who book a stay at rates running $3,000 to $5,000 a night for up to 10 people.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In 2024, some 45% of participants boosted 401(k) deferrals — on their own or as part of their plan’s automatic increases — according to Vanguard’s 2025 How America Saves report, which is based on more than 1,400 plans and nearly 5 million participants.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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