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
For its viewing audience, tuning in would eventually become a kind of Pavlovian response to breaking news — and to anything major unfolding anywhere in the world.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 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
For its viewing audience, tuning in would eventually become a kind of Pavlovian response to breaking news — and to anything major unfolding anywhere in the world.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 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
-
That leads to the second category: a simple reflex agent with state.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Some bass-heavy speakers can create an annoying booming sound from the reflex port at the rear of the speaker.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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In a foundational study, it was found that companies professing a strong belief in meritocracy were more likely to reward men over equally performing women because the belief in objectivity ironically reduces self-scrutiny in decisions, giving managers subconscious permission to act on stereotypes.—
Heather Price,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
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The initial drafts of a novel are often where our subconscious patterns emerge of their own accord, those that the text’s logic then follows.—
Issa Quincy
July 16,
Literary Hub,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Now, there are obviously visceral and terrible things about all cultures, all cultures come with good and bad, but culture cannot be inherently bad.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, described America’s deficit spiral in dramatic—and visceral—terms.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
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Everyone seems to be talking about LeBron James and Drake’s seemingly fractured relationship except for the two most important people, save for a few subliminal bars from the Toronto superstar.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
23 July 2025
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The mainstay topic of subliminal messaging refers to the use of subliminal stimuli that mentally burrow into the subconscious of the human mind.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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Fractional works best when priorities are clear, communication is streamlined and the leader prioritizes strategic over reactive work.—
Kenzie Biggins,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Known for their bold, occasionally reactive behavior—especially when confronted by unfamiliar, larger breeds—this group appeared to stand their ground.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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After Terrell was hit, according to the New York City Police Department, he was found unconscious on top of the train at the station.—
Brian Brant,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Fox also said that Matthews is not responsible for knocking unconscious the male victim seen in the viral video.—
Peter D'Abrosca , CB Cotton,
FOXNews.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Nathan Kaufman, a health care consultant and long-time Palomar observer who has been critical of recent leadership decisions, said that the pact between Palomar and UCSD is not an automatic win given the current state of health care margins.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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The service, launched in 2021, offered unlimited photo and video storage to AT&T’s Protect Advantage plan subscribers with the convenience of automatic backup at full quality and no data charges when backing up over AT&T’s network.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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