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
And that kind of contradicts your instinct as an actor.
—
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
This public instinct didn’t emerge in a vacuum.
—Dustin Olson, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Your instincts are probably already solid, but a little wisdom from a professional stylist goes a long way.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 25 Jan. 2026
That instinct is understandable.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
This public instinct didn’t emerge in a vacuum.
—Dustin Olson, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Your instincts are probably already solid, but a little wisdom from a professional stylist goes a long way.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 25 Jan. 2026
That instinct is understandable.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
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In these cases, crypto prices have demonstrated a historical tendency to benefit.—
Matthew Kayser,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The team has also shown a tendency to sign former top-100 draft picks heading into a second contract.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The designer honors his Azerbaijani heritage, working with artisans from across Azerbaijan and Georgia to create rich, unique textures, while helping to support rural communities and preserve fading artisanal skills.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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According to a Forbes report, the app store is built on OM1, OpenMind’s modular operating system, which allows developers to create apps that package specific skills for distribution across multiple robot platforms.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Up to us are judgment, inclination, desire, aversion — in short, whatever is our own doing.—
Massimo Pigliucci,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s inclinations to make every race about him could foul this for the GOP.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But most of the jazz world ended up moving in the other direction, fleeing to New York and Paris and never looking back as if chasing elite romance, and this was as valid an impulse as chasing the sun.—
Celina Pereira,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Or the impulse that really just got like cranked two 11 that kind of forced you into this?—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Despite some outsiders' ideas of the common Amish person's disposition, Bates dismisses any misconceptions about the way she was treated while living in the community.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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By coordinating the full lifecycle of nuclear energy—from fuel production to waste disposition—the department seeks to improve national energy security and enhance the country’s position in the global nuclear energy market.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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