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automatic

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word automatic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of automatic are impulsive, instinctive, mechanical, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

Where would impulsive be a reasonable alternative to automatic?

While the synonyms impulsive and automatic are close in meaning, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

When could instinctive be used to replace automatic?

The words instinctive and automatic can be used in similar contexts, but instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When would mechanical be a good substitute for automatic?

In some situations, the words mechanical and automatic are roughly equivalent. However, mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

When is it sensible to use spontaneous instead of automatic?

The meanings of spontaneous and automatic largely overlap; however, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

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 automatic
Adjective
In the car world, automatics are practical and simple for the majority of commuting drivers, but enthusiasts often prefer the extra control and involvement of a clutch and a stick-shift. New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2024 For Prime Day there are a couple De’Longhi Magnifica models, the brand’s entry-level super automatics, on big sales. Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 17 July 2024
Noun
Released on the occasion of the Singapore Grand Prix, the choice of the HMC 804 automatic flying tourbillon movement, with its double hairspring designed to improve precision and resilience, is a nod to the split-second accuracy demanded in Formula One. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025 Water Conservation Tips To conserve water, don't set your automatic irrigation system and forget it. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for automatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for automatic
Adjective
  • Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Crea provides intuitive tools, automated optimization, and a wide range of working modes to balance maximum quality with maximum speed.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
  • As workplaces become more automated, employers are placing a lot of value on those interpersonal skills that humans can still master far better than any AI programs, according to Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman.
    Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Handguns can be modified through switches, effectively turning a handgun into a machine gun, meaning holding the trigger will fire bullets rapidly until the trigger is released by the shooter.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Two other 16-year-old boys were arrested for dangerous possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun related to the shooting.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The first mimics its real-life namesake by having a strong, flexible robotic arm.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2025
  • But the country is now building toward a robotic lunar lander to be launched by a homegrown rocket, with a grander vision of establishing a moon base by 2045 as part of a long-term exploration road map released by KASA in August.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One casing is a 9mm caliber, likely a pistol, or a machine pistol or a submachine gun, Weir said.
    Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 26 June 2024
  • Prosecutors said police found two weapons in the getaway car when the men were detained on a highway about 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside Amsterdam, a Heckler and Koch machine pistol and, in a Louis Vuitton bag, a blank-firing pistol that had been modified to take 9-millimeter rounds.
    MIKE CORDER, ajc, 18 Oct. 2021
Adjective
  • This realistic doctor’s coat has everything your aspiring doctor needs to give their patients a check-up, including a face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects (AAA batteries not included), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag.
    Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The reflex trade was a textbook Fed-easing play to rotate out of big, expensive growth stocks and into lower-quality, more cyclical small-caps and financials .
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Police said that's when Thomas Sanford, 40, of Burton, rammed his pickup into the LDS church on McCandlish Road, jumped out and began firing an assault rifle at congregants and setting the church on fire.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Authorities claimed Sanford crashed his pickup truck, mounted with two American flags, into the church, got out, and began shooting with an assault rifle, KUTV reported.
    Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Weekday dinners, spontaneous hikes and running downhill with their dogs are all part of the routine.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Our results suggest that children are actually capable of spontaneous logical strategy discovery much earlier when circumstances require it.
    Celeste Kidd, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Automatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/automatic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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