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
An ‘instinctual trainer’ But SeaWorld.
—
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Thomasin’s work has a beautiful authenticity and emotional depth to it, while Toby is so instinctual and alive as an actor.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Minkah is great, Very instinctual, great teammate.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Manning took a thorough, yet instinctual approached to the selection process.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Moore showed instinctual abilities at running back, with some speed, balance and cutting moves.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Thomasin’s work has a beautiful authenticity and emotional depth to it, while Toby is so instinctual and alive as an actor.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Minkah is great, Very instinctual, great teammate.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Manning took a thorough, yet instinctual approached to the selection process.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Moore showed instinctual abilities at running back, with some speed, balance and cutting moves.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctual
Adjective
-
There is no semi-automatic offside system as in La Liga.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The system has an automatic self-cleaning function and is designed for easy, tool-free filter replacement, with filters lasting from 12 to 24 months.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The money would provide for beginning mechanical removal of the algae mass in the most problematic areas and setting up test areas for the effectiveness of algicides, Miller said.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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And while ultrasound techniques can modulate the activity of neurons by delivering gentle mechanical pulses that influence how cells send signals, current systems have struggled to reach deeper areas of the brain with sufficient precision—until now.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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More broadly, this instinctive punching left at anything that smacks of gender, or academics, or whatever else the center is scared of, is never about language.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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Several noted that his instinctive tug had likely prevented the pair from colliding with the elk.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Beyond that, though, the history of the past couple of years shows that NVDA's stock move isn't a reliable directional driver of the broad tape beyond the reflex reaction.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
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During that second stay, a routine reflex test caused his leg to jerk violently, prompting a full spinal MRI.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Butler never imagined Zimmerer – a typically non-spontaneous person – would drop everything to book a flight and travel more than 1,500 miles from Nebraska to be there.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Earlier in the tournament, Sinner said that their meetings now will never be quite as spontaneous as the epic five-setter here three years ago, which announced their rivalry to the world.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Part surgeon, part mechanic — as seen sawing away at a leg in EW's exclusive Fall Movie Preview image, above — days spent filming in Victor's lab were some of the actor's favorite.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
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Three men who worked at a mechanic shop near where the truck was abandoned were taken into custody but later released due to insufficient evidence.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The couple married in 2019 in a ceremony officiated by Sutskever at OpenAI’s offices, with a robotic hand serving as ring bearer.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Having a robotic bear, rabbit, chicken or fox the size of a refrigerator coming after you in the dark was truly terrifying.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The condition causes sudden weakness or paralysis in muscles on one side of the face and is, in most cases, temporary, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instinctual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctual. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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