as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
Charlotte needs to develop the killer instinct that turns comfortable leads into victories, not crushing disappointments that define the season.
—
Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Morikawa is on a yearslong mission to regain his killer instinct.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Will Joe finally find that perfect love he’s been searching for, or will his killer instincts ruin everything yet again?
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
The killer instinct to wrap up a series is crucial.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Morikawa is on a yearslong mission to regain his killer instinct.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Will Joe finally find that perfect love he’s been searching for, or will his killer instincts ruin everything yet again?
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
The killer instinct to wrap up a series is crucial.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
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Pasta cooking water does contain starches that can serve as food for fungi and attract insects.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
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Try pairing a banana with peanut or almond butter, Greek yogurt, or a handful of nuts or seeds for a nutritious and satiating meal or snack. Try greener bananas for more resistant starch.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Turturro’s career is defined by thoughtful storytelling and grit.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Boston Rob - swag, confidence, determination, Boston grit, strategic, GOAT.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Howard preferred simmer to boil, sugar to sass, and never lacked spunk.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
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Those recordings hold up for their crystalline sound and youthful spunk.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Ellen is Team Colum, and that endorsement gives him enough gumption to ask his brother to kindly yield.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Despite her moods, which could be epic, Ann typically evinced a kind of cockeyed pluck, a hummingbird baseline that stood in contrast to mania.—
Ned Zeman,
Outside,
14 Nov. 2021
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First: Be heartened by the pluck and guile the Nuggets showed against the Thunder three weeks ago.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Oasis is instigating joy on reunion tour What Oasis has brought with this tour, perhaps inadvertently, is a communal spirit.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
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This book’s rightful home is in the waiting room of a child psychologist’s office, where it should be presented in the same spirit with which Dum-Dums are left in a dentist’s reception area.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But officials in Nashville warn the cuts could impact important health initiatives.—
Melissa Brown,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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On top of that, tech companies are rolling back diversity initiatives in alignment with President Donald Trump's anti-DEI push, with companies like Meta cutting programs designed to boost hiring of women and marginalized communities in the industry.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And rural communities, with their strong culture of self-reliance, adaptability, resilience, and strong local ties, are uniquely positioned to benefit from and potentially lead this transformation.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The move to greater … regional self-reliance for defence, energy, food and raw materials is a very long-term one.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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