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
At the same time, partisan media ecosystems reinforce voters’ instincts.
—
Brandon Rottinghaus, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
McDaniel had the opposite instinct.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
But those instincts are correct on the pitching side – the Cubs don’t have a lot of young arms to offer in trade negotiations besides Wiggins and Horton, who’s essentially untouchable.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
When in doubt, trust your instincts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Brandon Rottinghaus, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
McDaniel had the opposite instinct.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
But those instincts are correct on the pitching side – the Cubs don’t have a lot of young arms to offer in trade negotiations besides Wiggins and Horton, who’s essentially untouchable.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
When in doubt, trust your instincts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
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The brewery’s ball pit is meant to be an incisive commentary on our generation’s tendency to enjoy the trappings of adulthood—such as consuming alcohol—without fully committing to the responsibilities that are supposed to come with them, such as parenthood.—
Eddie Small,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s economic management combines two theoretically incompatible tendencies.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Investopedia defines it as a job done outside the office, typically requiring manual labor or skills in a particular trade.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Activity Table Foster your little one’s motor skills with this activity table that allows babies ages 6 months and up to flip, slide, roll, spin, and press the buttons, wheels, and lights.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The inclination to avoid that threshold already impacted Denver’s decision not to sign a rookie contract extension with Peyton Watson last month.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lin—whose early career at Zappos and mathematical inclinations molded him into an early backer of companies like Airbnb and DoorDash—has been at Sequoia since 2010.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But these impulses are growing within the Democratic Party as well.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Citi Bike stemmed from a practical impulse.—
Evan Friss,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For her part, BunnaB, beloved for her infectious, near-constant laughs, has separated herself from this ascendant pack by infusing her bubbly disposition, girl’s girl attitude, unfettered authenticity — and the unmistakable gravity of earning a second shot.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
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Controversy follows Cheney While Cheney's disposition was never particularly sunny, critics assailed the vice president as a relentlessly grim figure.—
Don Gonyea,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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