as in reflex
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Recent Examples of Pavlovian
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
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
The clack-clack-clack of the spinning wheel and the announcing of the winning number tends to elicit a Pavlovian response from the audience.
—David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 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
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
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
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
The clack-clack-clack of the spinning wheel and the announcing of the winning number tends to elicit a Pavlovian response from the audience.
—David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 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
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
-
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
-
The Loewe Grand inicio is a powerful two-way speaker with a bass reflex system and is available as a floor-standing speaker.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Each time the person watches the video, their subconscious mind is seemingly being subverted toward being obedient to AGI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
And when detecting the artist approaching flow, the device would emit a subtle cue — a slight change in the sound of their instrument or the lighting — to give the brain a subconscious boost and thereby accelerate and enhance one’s immersion into flow.—
Brandon Sneed,
Rolling Stone,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a raw and immersive experience—a visceral portrait of love, fear, and resilience in the most extreme conditions.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 July 2025
-
Crace transports readers two thousand years into the past to a stark Biblical landscape full of visceral encounters, violence, self-denial, and possible miracles.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
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
-
Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
-
Michelle accused Braxton of continuing to take subliminal jabs at her since their Love & Hip Hop days — even as recently as after Beyoncé sent her flowers.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
16 June 2025
-
Anyhow, this subliminal message to the Bond producer didn't do the trick.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
The convergence of an expanding threat surface and rapidly advancing attacker capabilities makes a reactive cybersecurity strategy untenable.—
Shane Buckley,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
On the other hand, a reactive result means that the test showed a reaction, suggesting the presence of HIV antigens or antibodies in your sample.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
In some cases, AI feedback forced Martinez to reflect on how unconscious bias may have shaped his original assessment.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
8 July 2025
-
Used responsibly, these systems can offer clearer benchmarks and reduce unconscious bias.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, their relationship is built on a secure emotional foundation that makes these behaviors natural and automatic over time.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Regardless of income, one factor that has helped boost savers’ balances is automatic enrollment.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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