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
This was an instinctual work, mined from decades of memory.
—
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Gukesh has a maturity that seems connected to his openness to instinctual play, and to his awareness of the depth and power of human feeling.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
The rest of Kennard’s learning has been through conversations with coaches, film study and instinctual play on the court.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Skyy Clark is a very instinctual defender.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Even voluntary music response seems to have an instinctual aspect.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
There is an instinctual thing — an unspoken and not really understood connection there.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe this instinctual allure is why waiting lists for allotments have doubled and tripled in the past decade.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The former five-star recruit is big (6-3, 238), instinctual, and features impressive lateral quickness and movement skills.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Gukesh has a maturity that seems connected to his openness to instinctual play, and to his awareness of the depth and power of human feeling.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
The rest of Kennard’s learning has been through conversations with coaches, film study and instinctual play on the court.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Skyy Clark is a very instinctual defender.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Even voluntary music response seems to have an instinctual aspect.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
There is an instinctual thing — an unspoken and not really understood connection there.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe this instinctual allure is why waiting lists for allotments have doubled and tripled in the past decade.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The former five-star recruit is big (6-3, 238), instinctual, and features impressive lateral quickness and movement skills.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctual
Adjective
-
When the program switched from optional to automatic enrollment, participation rose from 40% to 100%.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
-
Released in 2024, the titanium timepiece is equipped with a levitating flying tourbillon that allows the wearer to alternate between automatic and manual modes.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
-
For one, the home would need to have a supply of electrical and mechanical resources that are fairly reliable, since Farney says that a data center will exceed residential power supply really fast.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
As a downhill run defender, Winters is instinctive and decisive.—
Nick Harris
April 25,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That means today’s managers and Gen Z workers are, in many cases, operating from entirely different instinctive playbooks.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The ten seconds that led to the Braylon Mullins’ miracle shot were a series of reflex plays, reactions, the ultimate in instincts taking over, living in the split second, rather than in the moment.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2024, for example, more than 700 newborns died from spontaneous bleeding in their brains, which could have been complicated by liver disease or prematurity.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
-
The little details are also covered—ice water delivered at regular intervals by beach staff, as well as complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkel gear, making a spontaneous adventure easy to come by.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Eva Petzel, who will be an inspector working in Crown Point on election day, worked with mechanic Doug Kiser on a practice tutorial at the Lake County Government Complex on Saturday.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Voters will decide in November on whether the union leader and mechanic stays in the seat ahead of the 2027 legislative session.—
Lina Ruiz
May 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Raspberry Pi powers the robotic alien A Raspberry Pi 5 sits at the heart of the robot, connected to a PCA9685 HAT that controls the servo motors and movement.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
Alongside the crew landers, dozens of robotic and cargo landings will deliver payloads to scout for a future Moon base and demonstrate technologies for larger vehicles, mining and resource utilization, and sustained operations during the two-week-long lunar night.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
If the arteries are leading to the brain, symptoms may involve sudden numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, trouble speaking, slurred speech, sudden or temporary vision loss in one eye or facial drooping.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
The vote of confidence from Multicoin continued what has been a sudden revival of interest in Zcash, which first launched in 2016.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instinctual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctual. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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