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
Manaea tinkers and sometimes operates on instinct and feel.
—
Will Sammon, New York Times, 5 June 2026
But after several minutes passed, her instincts took over.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Why the instinct exists at all is still an open question.
—Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 4 June 2026
His instincts proved prescient.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Will Sammon, New York Times, 5 June 2026
But after several minutes passed, her instincts took over.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Why the instinct exists at all is still an open question.
—Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 4 June 2026
His instincts proved prescient.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
-
There is still a tendency in tech to assume serious funding has to flow through San Francisco or New York, but capital is increasingly available in markets that historically sat outside the center of the venture ecosystem.—
Hebron Sher,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Overprivileged students had a tendency to see teachers and headmasters not as authority figures but as people of lower social standing.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Researchers are already documenting how using AI tools in these contexts likely erodes critical thinking skills.—
Christian B. Miller,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
-
The quality of the present ultimately does not matter, thanks to Winegar’s day job as a comedy writer and his skill for booking equally funny guests.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
So far, Cuban leaders have signaled no inclination to make political concessions.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Now his eponymous impulses have expanded to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.—
Cleve R. Wootson Jr,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
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Here, as ever, Kokopeli suggests that clinging to youthful talismans offers no protection against uncertainty, and reasserts the odd mix of disaffection and morbid glee produced by such reactionary impulses.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
His humble and docile disposition resembles that of the air sign Libra, which holds moral righteousness and fair-mindedness.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Splashed across surfaces and accessories, the color establishes a sunny disposition, no matter the locale.—
Kathryn O'Shea-Evans,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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