PAVLOVIAN Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

Pavlovian

adjective

Definition of Pavlovian

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 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 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 Having been in a couple of recent street fights in Derby qualifying races, Pavlovian looks to have a haymaker’s chance. — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Why this is so is based on a number of factors, including official priorities, trade-offs, and what many suspect is Pavlovian manipulation. — New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Pavlovian

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian

Adjective

Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness.

— Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
One breath, just long enough to let the reflex pass and judgment catch up.

— Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of reflex

Adjective

We are swayed by subconscious gestures that ultimately have no bearing on a person’s ability to do a job, like poor posture or a weak handshake.

— Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Nolan has embraced an elaborately mathematical approach to storytelling and somehow applied it successfully to the subjects of subconscious corporate espionage, space exploration, and World War II.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026

Definition of subconscious

Adjective

Palal told jurors that Davis held onto a visceral hatred for Shakur for decades that drove him to speak.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
By featuring some of the same musicians in panel discussions and performances — in effect presenting a visceral cause-and-effect — Poston hopes attendees will gain a better perspective on Davis and his work.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of visceral

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

Definition of conditioned

Adjective

Rather than questioning the practice of manifesting more broadly, though, Theiadora thinks the problem lies with a handful of rogue subliminal creators.

— Daisy Schofield, Allure, 13 July 2026
Drop after drop after drop from the receivers and tight ends — all while Brandon Aiyuk continued to post subliminal messages on social media amid his feud with the 49ers.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Definition of subliminal

Adjective

Despite Villa reaching their zenith under Emery in May, there was a growing argument to undergo a stable transitional phase, providing youthful impetus and appearing proactive, rather than reactive, in lowering the age of the squad.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Staff can spend less time on reactive, repetitive work and more time on the interactions that genuinely require a human touch.

— Brett White, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of reactive

Adjective

At the scene, authorities found Pomeroy lying unconscious in the bar's parking lot.

— Michael Guise, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
They are frequently shaped by conscious and unconscious biases, workplace politics and whether an employee is viewed favorably by leadership.

— Lauren Russell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconscious

Adjective

The new safeguards include requiring law enforcement to label every search with a with a criminal case number, and instituting an automatic review for abnormal search activities, which will trigger proactive lockouts for those users.

— Soo Youn, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm specializing in civil liberties cases, identified over 100 incidents of automatic license plate reader abuse, including stalking and wrongful stops.

— Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of automatic

Browse Nearby Words

paving the way (for)

Pavlovian

paw

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of Pavlovian

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

balmy

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes