instinctively

adverb

Definition of instinctivelynext
as in intuitively

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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 instinctively Summary Research reveals humans instinctively add solutions to problems, a cognitive default observed in studies where people preferred adding over subtracting, even when removal would yield better results. — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 An aftershock that struck during an interview Tuesday prompted Vincentius Rano and his wife to instinctively duck and cover their heads. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Then there could be optical disruption in which the quantum dots emit specific wavelengths of light under ambient conditions that insects instinctively dislike. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 In the movie, Peter and Ned instinctively perform their signature handshake despite the memory-altering events of No Way Home. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 The late actress however, was instinctively hesitant to sign on. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 While waiting to board, many travelers instinctively reach for their phones—connecting to Wi-Fi, scrolling social media, or posting a photo of their boarding pass. — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026 Attendees instinctively ducked under tables and chairs, not knowing what had just happened. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 Rooftops and Nightcaps Then Merchant & Trade rises above the skyline with the kind of rooftop view that makes people instinctively reach for their phones to capture a few sexy shots before throwing one back. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctively
  1. intuitively
  2. essentially
  3. fundamentally
  4. basically
Adverb
  • Underneath the surface, the Fashion Studio intuitively harnesses the cumulative power of leading AI models without overwhelming the designer with having to learn a new technology to do the same job.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The idea that the gooey mass inside the skull contains some ineffable, nonprogrammable essence—consciousness, spirit, or something else—may be intuitively appealing.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of intuitively
Adverb
  • Actors and crew describe standard 18 to 20-hour working days as productions rushed to stay within budget while shooting what are essentially feature-length movies in the space of roughly a week.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In Brooklyn, the Bushwick Street Art Walking Tour will take you on a stroll around the neighborhood, which essentially feels like an outdoor art gallery.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of essentially
Adverb
  • If China wants to increase its self-sufficiency, the source believes, the country needs to fundamentally update its decades-old regulatory regime.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In the tumultuous, post-COVID global landscape, there’s something fundamentally frivolous about getting wrapped up in your own personal dramas.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of fundamentally
Adverb
  • Lee Johnson After I got sacked from Fleetwood Town in 2023, I was basically cancelled in a football sense.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Its footprint is still basically square, so the shape doesn’t waste much floor space.
    — Evan Russum, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of basically

Browse Nearby Words

instinctive
instinctively
instincts
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Cite this Entry

“Instinctively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctively. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of instinctively for Spanish Speakers

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