as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children
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Recent Examples of instinctive
Much of this behavior is instinctive.
—
Rob Henderson,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
That trajectory continued through 2019’s sprawling Our Pathetic Age and 2023’s Action Adventure, which Shadow told SPIN reflected his desire to create music that felt more immediate and instinctive rather than beholden to expectations surrounding his legacy.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
17 June 2026
Asked about her next project after the masterclass, Mumenthaler again described the process as instinctive.
—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
13 June 2026
Conversations want courage as instinctive Moon in your 3rd House of Communication conjoins warrior Mars there, urging clear words with soft edges.
—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinctive
Rob Henderson,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
That trajectory continued through 2019’s sprawling Our Pathetic Age and 2023’s Action Adventure, which Shadow told SPIN reflected his desire to create music that felt more immediate and instinctive rather than beholden to expectations surrounding his legacy.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
17 June 2026
Asked about her next project after the masterclass, Mumenthaler again described the process as instinctive.
—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
13 June 2026
Conversations want courage as instinctive Moon in your 3rd House of Communication conjoins warrior Mars there, urging clear words with soft edges.
—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instinctive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctive
Adjective
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Beneath the charges for chicken and ribeye skewers, french fries and iced teas, the Town Center mall restaurant had added a 20% automatic gratuity and 3% service fee.
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The bankruptcy court started with the simple observation that any time a bankruptcy case is commenced, an automatic stay goes into effect.
Adjective
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Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
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Shawn was a fireman in the Navy, maintaining the engineering and mechanical systems aboard ship, during his first stint.
Adjective
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As the session continues, Atlas’s movements appear increasingly fluid, suggesting the system is being evaluated not only for strength but also for agility, reflex response, and adaptive motor control.
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Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees.
Adjective
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First, bringing tried-and-true basics allows for spontaneous styling, rather than trying to plan every outfit ahead of time.
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The spontaneous pregnancy was so rare that even some medical professionals struggled to explain its odds.
Adjective
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In her speech, Swift reflected on her career, the instinctual nature of her songwriting, and trusting her own voice.
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The instinctual Moon in your 1st House of Identity conjoins tender Chiron there, asking you to lead by naming a need without armor.
Adjective
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The funding comes through SpaceWERX’s Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) program and will support development of the company’s robotic additive manufacturing platform for producing extreme-environment materials.
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By crafting a revenge mission driven by a canine companion, but without fleshing out the emotions behind it, the movie ends up robotic in its unfurling.
Adjective
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Smoke invades their businesses, even their sleep Inside MV Automotive at East Olympic Boulevard and Alma Avenue, Manny Villasenor, whose father owns the mechanic shop, said the smoke had forced him to close earlier.
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After developing a page-numbering device with fellow inventor Soulé, the mechanic Glidden encouraged Sholes to adapt the idea to put letters on the page.
Cite this Entry
“Instinctive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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