as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
the birds' instinctual response is to fly away when startled
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Recent Examples of instinctual
The Cubs are athletic, instinctual and experienced, qualities that are magnified underneath the playoff spotlight.
—
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Jackson threw it away on fourth down, almost like an instinctual reaction of panic.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
There’s an instinctual stitching that binds its many scenes together that build to a heartwrenching ending, culminating in neither a whimper nor a bang but a welcome sigh of relief.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Learning about this biological response showed me just how instinctual elimination communication is.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Scientists speculate that this could be an expression of mourning or an instinctual effort to understand the loss.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The Bristol Bay watershed is a migration zone and the heartbeat of escapement, the instinctual cycle of salmon creating a sustainable migration pattern.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The result is an absurdity that can elicit instinctual laughter at the grossest imagery imaginable.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
An ‘instinctual trainer’ But SeaWorld.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Jackson threw it away on fourth down, almost like an instinctual reaction of panic.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
There’s an instinctual stitching that binds its many scenes together that build to a heartwrenching ending, culminating in neither a whimper nor a bang but a welcome sigh of relief.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Learning about this biological response showed me just how instinctual elimination communication is.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Scientists speculate that this could be an expression of mourning or an instinctual effort to understand the loss.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The Bristol Bay watershed is a migration zone and the heartbeat of escapement, the instinctual cycle of salmon creating a sustainable migration pattern.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The result is an absurdity that can elicit instinctual laughter at the grossest imagery imaginable.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
An ‘instinctual trainer’ But SeaWorld.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctual
Adjective
-
How teams stack up in the race for automatic bids, first-round byes and staying on the right side of the bubble.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Small and simple, the Magnifica is an automatic machine that can brew seven drinks, including espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and iced coffee.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That quiet, instinctive gesture of care — captured on video and later shared on TikTok — struck a chord with hundreds of thousands.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
At its core, the novel is a philosophical search for harmony in a world where our intellectual side expects rational order, whereas the instinctive natural world follows its own principles.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This realistic doctor’s coat has everything your aspiring doctor needs to give their patients a check-up, including a face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects (AAA batteries not included), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The reflex trade was a textbook Fed-easing play to rotate out of big, expensive growth stocks and into lower-quality, more cyclical small-caps and financials .—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Weekday dinners, spontaneous hikes and running downhill with their dogs are all part of the routine.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Our results suggest that children are actually capable of spontaneous logical strategy discovery much earlier when circumstances require it.—
Celeste Kidd,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cynthia Quiles, who plays mechanic Frankie, is not known to have any romantic ties and hasn't spoken publicly about her personal life.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Kreider is refreshed to be teaching young folks who are engaged in mechanic work.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The first mimics its real-life namesake by having a strong, flexible robotic arm.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
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But the country is now building toward a robotic lunar lander to be launched by a homegrown rocket, with a grander vision of establishing a moon base by 2045 as part of a long-term exploration road map released by KASA in August.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Sources close to the couple said the breakup was far from sudden.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instinctual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctual. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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