as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
The stoicism, resilience and killer instinct that turned Klonowski from an outsider into a reliable force encounter their toughest test to date entering the NCAA Championships.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
So many opponents would have wilted in that moment, unable to stand up to James’ determination or Dončić’s killer instinct.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s appearance on this list is a reflection of the desire for fresh dynamism and more killer instinct down the left-hand side of the attack.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
So many opponents would have wilted in that moment, unable to stand up to James’ determination or Dončić’s killer instinct.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s appearance on this list is a reflection of the desire for fresh dynamism and more killer instinct down the left-hand side of the attack.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
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Cooling the rice allows for indigestible resistant starch to form.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
18 July 2025
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Rinsing the rice removes excess starch that can cause the rice to clump.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Lindsey: My heritage shapes my use of rice, beans, and seafood—ingredients that are cornerstones of dishes like Hoppin' John and shrimp and grits.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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If the White man stands for innovation, grit, and not bending to PC nonsense, count me in.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Noun
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His band, which included former San Diego guitarist Jose Rios, played with spunk and well-calibrated precision whether delivering uptempo funk and hip-hop numbers, tender R&B love songs or slinky reggae grooves.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
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Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Because, in the first movie, that line came out of desperation and fear; a very young girl who just had a moment of gumption, and honestly, a killer could have jumped right out of that moment and taken her out.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
21 July 2025
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The critics may be talking tough now, but Thune is betting that some of them won’t have the gumption to block the bill on the Senate floor and risk having Trump’s anger rain down on them through social media.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2025
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But Belvidere is roaring back because of its own pluck.—
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Each meal service is also accompanied by a variety of premium wine and spirits as well as soft drinks.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
20 July 2025
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Nearby is also Saint Paul Mountain Farms, an orchard and vineyard producing local wines, hard ciders and spirits.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
Noun
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Finance leaders play a vital role in ensuring the organization’s technology modernization journey delivers maximum value by identifying the modernization initiatives offering the highest ROI potential with the lowest project execution risk.—
Jim DeLoach,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Companies that recently scrapped DEI initiatives These businesses followed on the heels of the initial wave of companies removing diversity, equity and inclusion policies.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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President Xi Jinping has called for greater self-reliance in the face of increasing external uncertainty.—
Peter Catterall,
Fortune,
16 July 2025
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Sarah’s sense of ingenuity and self-reliance was hard won.—
Jessica Pishko,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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