Pavlovian

adjective

Definition of Pavloviannext
as in reflex

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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
  1. reflex
  2. subconscious
  3. visceral
  4. conditioned
  5. subliminal
  6. reactive
  7. unconscious
  8. automatic
Adjective
  • As the session continues, Atlas’s movements appear increasingly fluid, suggesting the system is being evaluated not only for strength but also for agility, reflex response, and adaptive motor control.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
  • Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 May 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
  • Yet, Hizzoner’s visceral disdain for the Jewish state carries troubling undertones of antisemitism.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
  • The gruesome tragedy transforms every scene that follows, and as Irene’s trauma mutates into something primal, what begins as a portrait of impossible loss reveals itself as a visceral examination of survival itself.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 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
  • What ultimately proved effective at stopping this was not necessarily the convergence of technology and lessons learned, but a proactive rather than reactive strategy towards stopping intrusions.
    — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • He’s become consumed by trying to solve theatrical lighting—essentially, creating ultra-cheap audience-reactive lightshows for coffee shops and small venues.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of reactive
Adjective
  • Importantly, this is happening at an unconscious level, meaning that women aren’t necessarily purposefully excluded at work.
    — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Officers found Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan unconscious.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of unconscious
Adjective
  • Langley said that his company has recently rolled out a robust automatic audit process by which suspicious or questionable activity is flagged for administrators.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • If an open door isn’t detected, the automatic parking brake won’t activate, increasing the risk of vehicle rollaway.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 July 2026
Definition of automatic

Browse Nearby Words

paving the way (for)
Pavlovian
paw
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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