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
In a display of tough love, Anne kicks her out, urging her to trust her motherly instincts and not doubt herself.
—
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Ken is an outstanding journalist and editor, with exceptional instincts for identifying major story opportunities and developing ambitious enterprise reporting.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share common reasons why leaders resist giving people autonomy, where those instincts often originate and how shifting them can lead to stronger teams and better long-term outcomes.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
July 23 – August 22 Leo, your instincts guide steady progress.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 12th House of Reflection, illuminating private thoughts, old patterns, and instincts that have been waiting underneath the noise.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Silent voicemails are designed to mess with your instincts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
No need to overthink things either, especially with the sun joining forces with Mercury in Taurus, turning up the volume on our thoughts, instincts and voice.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Lyan Tun found that the tensions that emerged on set, the moments when their different instincts about how to respond to an unexpected problem collided, ultimately shaped the film’s texture.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 May 2026
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Ken is an outstanding journalist and editor, with exceptional instincts for identifying major story opportunities and developing ambitious enterprise reporting.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share common reasons why leaders resist giving people autonomy, where those instincts often originate and how shifting them can lead to stronger teams and better long-term outcomes.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
July 23 – August 22 Leo, your instincts guide steady progress.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 12th House of Reflection, illuminating private thoughts, old patterns, and instincts that have been waiting underneath the noise.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Silent voicemails are designed to mess with your instincts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
No need to overthink things either, especially with the sun joining forces with Mercury in Taurus, turning up the volume on our thoughts, instincts and voice.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Lyan Tun found that the tensions that emerged on set, the moments when their different instincts about how to respond to an unexpected problem collided, ultimately shaped the film’s texture.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instincts
Noun
-
Even so, there is a real responsibility on the introverted leader to understand how their natural tendencies land with the people around them and how to be most effective within that awareness.—
Bill Koch,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
This summer, Disneyland is leaning all the way into its patriotic tendencies.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The Bawah Anambas Foundation works with local communities to combat destructive fishing techniques, focusing on reforestation and offering skills training.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Fiverr Pro has witnessed a massive spike in demand for people with skills in AI development and workflow orchestration tools.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Over the last week or so, the four satellites adjusted their inclinations—the angles of their orbits to the equator—by less than a degree.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
This time, any remaining impulses of late 1990s and 2000s decadence have been erased with features like a social lobby and a sprawling rooftop park with verdant landscaping with Adirondack chairs and a campfire.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Therefore, guard your impulses.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
David Yannetti, representing Officer Nicholas O’Malley, 33, has filed a slew of discovery motions in the case — requesting records of King’s complete criminal history, including all arrests, charges, dispositions, and pending matters from any jurisdiction.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
13 May 2026
-
Deputies will document all referrals and dispositions so the department can track how often services are offered, what resources are utilized and whether those efforts are producing measurable results.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instincts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instincts. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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