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.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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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.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Noun
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On this late May evening, the 15 men gathered there were contemplating tackling something few had previously had the courage or skill to take on.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Web developers and digital designers These workers build websites and apps, employing both coding and visual design skills.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
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That was a statement signaling that even if the committee made no changes to interest rates, its inclination in the future would be to cut, rather than hike.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Whereas pain is a primary mode of these antithetical impulses, as are hate, fear, anger and shame.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
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Its hybrid analog-digital approach allows Alfa free rein to actualize his impulses, while the meditative atmosphere prompts reflection on where those impulses come from.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The disposition in that case was not immediately clear.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
-
Change the leader themselves — their behaviours, their habits, their dispositions.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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