as in tendency
a usually innate ability or desire to perform a specific activity
Pouncing on mice is a cat's natural instinct. We needed all of our survival instincts to make it through the weeks lost at sea.
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Recent Examples of instinct
Appeal to your colleague’s better instincts as an educator and discourage this practice immediately.
—
Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Because of that, cats’ predatory instincts and behaviors are still very close to their wild ancestors.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Workers at Pratt & Whitney see their roles as integral to something larger — work that requires instinct, creativity and judgment.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
This five-in-one interactive toy is designed to activate your kitty's hunting instincts.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Because of that, cats’ predatory instincts and behaviors are still very close to their wild ancestors.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Workers at Pratt & Whitney see their roles as integral to something larger — work that requires instinct, creativity and judgment.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
This five-in-one interactive toy is designed to activate your kitty's hunting instincts.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
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Although medication and changes to your diet and lifestyle can help manage type 2 diabetes, the body’s underlying tendency toward insulin resistance cannot be cured.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
27 Feb. 2026
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There’s a facile critical tendency to liken a wide range of talky and small-scale dramas to the films of Éric Rohmer.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the kits can also have safety scissors or pencils with rubbery grippers to improve motor skills.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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That’s why a new effort to upgrade math skills via legislation is — or at least should be — high on the Capitol’s must-do list.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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My inclination next holiday is to continue to hand him the cookies and the card but not the cash.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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This necessity balanced out Donovan’s natural inclination to play Dillingham under stricter expectations.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After all, one of the persistent impulses of modern art has been to antagonize people of correct sensibilities, to subvert their cherished institutions.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Listen to what your impulses and instincts tell you.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But there's also, in addition to a policy conviction, there's also a disposition.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
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Convictions older than seven years, based on the date of the disposition, can’t be used either.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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