as in overambitiousness
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of killer instinct
UConn is 22-1, has won 18 in a row, is 7-0 in true road games, ranked third in the nation, and the coach is no longer lamenting a lack of killer instinct, but showing the lack of respect card.
—
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
-
Less-ripe bananas contain resistant starch, which slows digestion and may improve glucose handling.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
17 June 2026
-
The starch in potatoes does the same.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Zeolite absorbs excess oil while silk powder creates airy body and grit, making limp hair look instantly fuller and more lived-in.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
-
The Liberty’s tunnel is especially a sight because their tunnel style often lives in between a stretch of femininity and New York grit.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
These small, high-energy pups have plenty of spunk and a big heart.—
Pat Mueller,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
-
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
Noun
-
As Riese observed in an excellent round-up from Autostraddle, this magazine was best known for a certain gumption.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
15 June 2026
-
The Invest in Kids program was allowed to sunset at the end of 2023 because our legislators did not even have the gumption to bring the issue to the floor.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The opening acoustic guitar plucks were full in the lower frequencies while showing enough treble finesse to convey fine string texture.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
-
With every pluck, the strings seem to vibrate in the air in front of you, blurring like bees’ wings.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Thank you for a plethora of news on June 17 that didn’t crush our spirits.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
The appearance represented one of the highest-profile bookings in the festival’s history and fulfilled organizers’ goal of bringing an artist whose work aligned with the spirit of Juneteenth.—
J.M. Banks
June 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
The new partnership marks the most ambitious collaboration between HRTS and Easterseals Disability Services to date, with the organizations previously joining forces on numerous initiatives aiming to improve accessibility in the entertainment industry and authentic representation on screen.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
18 June 2026
-
This article is part of The Times’ early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The strong push towards self-reliance and controlling technical standards stemmed from lessons learned from the US-China trade war.—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
15 June 2026
-
When the family moved from Ohio after his freshman year, Klugo’s self-reliance helped elevate the tennis team.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
