as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
Savinho, who Guardiola said on Wednesday could miss up to two months with injury, and Oscar Bobb do not quite have the killer instinct in the final third yet, either.
—
Sam Lee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But not everyone has that same killer instinct.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
One quality that distinguishes the very best chess players is killer instinct, an almost animalistic will to win.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
Some in the organization have voiced the opinion that the Padres need to have more of a collective killer instinct and that getting more consistency out of some star players could help achieve that.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Sam Lee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But not everyone has that same killer instinct.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
One quality that distinguishes the very best chess players is killer instinct, an almost animalistic will to win.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
Some in the organization have voiced the opinion that the Padres need to have more of a collective killer instinct and that getting more consistency out of some star players could help achieve that.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
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Origami Sake has four ingredients, Ozark spring water, yeast, kogi -- a type of mold that converts the starch in rice to sugar -- and specialty sake rice grown in Arkansas.—
John Magsam,
Arkansas Online,
2 June 2026
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It is most often thought of as the starch star of risotto, the classic Northern Italian dish that slow cooks atop the stove — bubble, stir, bubble, stir.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
Noun
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West Indian and African seasonings and recipes merged with Low Country staples like rice, grits, kitchen garden vegetables, pork, and seafood.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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As Rachel learns about the family curse that threatens her and her betrothed, Morrone digs in with emotional complexity and real grit.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Hsu’s voice performance also gives Kristen spunk in these scenes, while Sharpe brings an unexpected vulnerability to AJ.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
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She was known among her neighbors for her generosity and spunk — and among her relatives for stubborn refusal to leave Bellevue Square, her home of 54 years, The Courant reported in 1997.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Imagine having watched film of your team in 2017 and 2018, then experiencing the gumption of the 2022 champions, then seeing the 2024 squad get bounced in the Play-In by the Sacramento Kings.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
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Edward Montoya plays Fingal as an idealistic young writer, fresh out of Harvard, with little practical experience but a lot of ability and gumption.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When those practitioners are taken away from patients, our pluck and determination waver.—
Mindy Uhrlaub,
STAT,
16 Mar. 2026
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The opening guitar plucks received loads of low-mid resonance and crisp string textures, and when the track fully kicked in, each element in the busy mix got plenty of attention and detail.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This new rye whiskey started its life in Illinois, specifically at Chicago craft distillery Koval, which makes some very… interesting spirits (the Koopers trained there as distillers).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
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As creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, Williams is an organic partner for Moët & Chandon, which belongs to the wines and spirits division of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Inside the museum, there are exhibitions dedicated to the former president’s political legacy, the former first lady’s public initiatives, and historical movements, such as Civil Rights and Women’s Suffrage, that shaped them both.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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There are some more interesting initiatives, too.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Being sent to boarding school at a young age introduced her to a level of self-reliance that would later influence her decision-making.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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The aim is to sharpen judgment, not replace it, fostering self-reliance.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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