instinct

noun

Definition of instinctnext
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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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 Vildor showed great instincts in the first quarter, leaving his wide receiver to drive downhill as quarterback Anthony Richardson locked onto a target in the flat. — Chad Graff, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Because we’re all wired differently, Magsamen recommends following your instincts. — Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026 Wilde’s public identity carries Arab roots, Western ambition, fashion, entertainment and a pop-culture instinct that moves quickly. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026 Mercury and Uranus’ connection today suggests that your gut instinct is the correct one. — Usa Today, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
  1. tendency
  2. skill
  3. inclination
  4. impulse
  5. disposition
Noun
  • Green Lantern stories can have a tendency to lean too far into the sc-fi angle, which can alienate a lot of non-hardcore fans.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Maynard also commends the company for its presentation of the result, in light of AI’s tendency to copy humans’ mathematical results and present them as its own ideas.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • Artan is now raring to show his skills and that of his continent on the European stage.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Since the 12th century London's guilds have nurtured generations of artisans, preserving skills while allowing each craft to evolve with every new era.
    — Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of skill
Noun
  • Salumeria 104 Come for Mediterranean vibes in a sidewalk cafe setting across from the sand at this Atlantic Beach restaurant—the inclination to sip an Aperol spritz and share a charcuterie platter is strong.
    — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of inclination
Noun
  • Angels doesn’t feel architectural in nearly the same way, but the strange impulses and movements of the book are really appealing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The warring impulses ought to cancel each other out, but Dante orchestrates his films’ elements so deftly that the contradictions enrich each other and create a worldview more distinctive and complex than those of Lucas and Spielberg.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulse
Noun
  • The state's Clean Slate legislation addresses the criminal records system itself, including procedures for identifying missing dispositions and correcting incomplete criminal history information.
    — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Staff at the medical examiner's office are working as quickly as possible to identify the bodies and notify their families, though the process could take several days to ensure proper disposition, according to the press release.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disposition

Browse Nearby Words

instills
instinct
instinctive
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on instinct

Nglish: Translation of instinct for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about instinct

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