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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instinct
Researchers at Oklahoma State University are now trying to change that by teaching machines to respond to human instinct in real time.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
Your instinct may be to jump into problem-solving mode, but sometimes your friend just needs to complain.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Women are generally socialized to be giving and assumed to have an instinct for care by the broader culture.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
Charles and James have an extraordinary history backing their bold instincts and consistently show up being great creative studio partners as well as first-rate producers and co-financiers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
Your instinct may be to jump into problem-solving mode, but sometimes your friend just needs to complain.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Women are generally socialized to be giving and assumed to have an instinct for care by the broader culture.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
Charles and James have an extraordinary history backing their bold instincts and consistently show up being great creative studio partners as well as first-rate producers and co-financiers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
-
But overall, the global findings jibe with other research that has demonstrated that young people today have been showing many positive trends, including a tendency to be more empathetic, less narcissistic, more inclusive and even more patient than past generations.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Our results show a tendency, not a rule, and understanding where this variation comes from will be fascinating to discover.—
Logan S. James,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sure, the equipment is better, the skill level higher, the compensation astronomical.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
What looks at first like a cooking class, is actually a doctor's appointment designed to help children and families build real-life skills around food and health.—
Breana Pitts,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If conservatism is something of an inclination or disposition, leftism of the more radical sort is a form of all-consuming identity, one that fills vacuums in otherwise empty lives and comprehensively guides behavior.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As a result, the franchise is caught between the competing impulses to preserve its legacy as a romantic ideal and to modernize itself for an audience that no longer believes in that mirage — resulting, most recently, in a casting that was doomed to fail on all fronts.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
-
However, emotional impulses to act are not enough to justify war.—
Dr. Michael Good,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If conservatism is something of an inclination or disposition, leftism of the more radical sort is a form of all-consuming identity, one that fills vacuums in otherwise empty lives and comprehensively guides behavior.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, an audience completely made up of people with my disposition would be silence.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
