as in tendencies
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 instincts
As the audience roared with applause, her words lingered—a call for women to trust their instincts, use their voices and believe that advocacy is not just healing for others, but for themselves.
—
Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Oct. 2025
As a larger conspiracy unfolds, Layla must rely on her instincts—and the reluctant help of her ex-fiancé, a British SAS soldier—in the tense hours before extraction.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Jesse Marsch’s paternal instincts kicked in.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The two-in-one toy features a spinning ball, a pop-up tail, and feathers to stimulate a cat's hunting instincts.
—Christine Persaud, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Following her instincts have always paid off for her.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Naturally, no shortage of love triangles, drunken decisions, and roommate squabbles ensue — common comedy tropes that get turned on their heads by Waller-Bridge’s trademark offbeat, razor-sharp comedic instincts.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 3 Oct. 2025
Beyond being fun, toys help dogs develop instincts, provide stimulation, and strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This month is all about going with your instincts and taking a leap of faith.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Oct. 2025
As a larger conspiracy unfolds, Layla must rely on her instincts—and the reluctant help of her ex-fiancé, a British SAS soldier—in the tense hours before extraction.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Jesse Marsch’s paternal instincts kicked in.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The two-in-one toy features a spinning ball, a pop-up tail, and feathers to stimulate a cat's hunting instincts.
—Christine Persaud, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Following her instincts have always paid off for her.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Naturally, no shortage of love triangles, drunken decisions, and roommate squabbles ensue — common comedy tropes that get turned on their heads by Waller-Bridge’s trademark offbeat, razor-sharp comedic instincts.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 3 Oct. 2025
Beyond being fun, toys help dogs develop instincts, provide stimulation, and strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This month is all about going with your instincts and taking a leap of faith.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instincts
Noun
-
King said he was inspired in part by Rader’s arrest, more specifically, by his ability to keep his murderous tendencies completely unknown to the rest of his family.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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These tendencies are most consequential in the kidnapping scene, a gnarled set piece that, in its planning and execution, seems to defy even dream logic.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The virtual event is intended to give participants emotional support, new coping skills and encouragement.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
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In the 2002 live-action version of the infamous cartoon, the gang takes a trip to Spooky Island, where suspicious behavior occurs, and the crew’s wacky investigative skills are needed.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
LaCombe, who played forward in his youth, has shown great improvement in his own end but still has the offensive inclinations to be a point producer.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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While the corrupt scheme was well documented journalistically and much of the evidence is indicative, ultimately Argentina's Judiciary followed its political inclinations all the way to the top.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Republican who ostensibly champions liberty but justifies authoritarian impulses from the White House.—
John H Bolthouse,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
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These are essentially gothic works, in which bleary, nocturnal isolation opens a door to bizarre impulses and uncanny transformations.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, because the animals' natural habitats share some overlap and both have similarly docile dispositions, zoos often group howlers and capybaras together.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
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Involvement in structuring joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, activist takeover and defense, financing arrangements, and similar matters will all be considered.—
Liane Jackson,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instincts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instincts. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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