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
Many men have an instinct to protect and care for the vulnerable, too.
—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
The technology is designed to act as a co-pilot, augmenting rather than replacing the training, professionalism and instinct of experienced emergency personnel.
—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Your instinct may be to focus on logistics while avoiding your emotions… but unfortunately for you, this season is anything but stoic.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Senesi, whose instinct is to win the ball high, complements his game more naturally, as does Kevin Danso, who ended the season excellently and should not be overlooked.
—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
The technology is designed to act as a co-pilot, augmenting rather than replacing the training, professionalism and instinct of experienced emergency personnel.
—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Your instinct may be to focus on logistics while avoiding your emotions… but unfortunately for you, this season is anything but stoic.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Senesi, whose instinct is to win the ball high, complements his game more naturally, as does Kevin Danso, who ended the season excellently and should not be overlooked.
—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
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At its most fundamental, leadership exists because humans are simultaneously competitive and cooperative — and the balance between these two tendencies determines everything.
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Even the most memorable new character, Forky (Tony Hale)—an endearingly daffy piece of plastic cutlery with a tendency toward self-harm—could only reinforce the sense that we were being served a load of flimsy, disposable goods.
Noun
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Antonucci said working with dogs can help patients practice and improve communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal.
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The tradeoff is time and skill.
Noun
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Burdette, leveraging his brother’s connections with college athletes, and his natural inclination to bring the party, had recruited agents who were younger and more fun than Pughsley’s original crowd.
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Choosing a college major has always felt like a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries—new engineering and computer science grads earn more than those with English degrees.
Noun
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The pair described childhood bedrooms covered in surf magazine cutouts and boards decorated with stickers in imitation of pro riders, calling the capsule a nod to that same impulse to live inside surf culture even when not in the water.
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That storytelling impulse extends beyond the restaurant floor into Spooky Wine Society, a personal project built around horror, community and shared experience.
Noun
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The disposition in that case was not immediately clear.
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Change the leader themselves — their behaviours, their habits, their dispositions.
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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