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
During the third, his killer instinct shifted focus.
—
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
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
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
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Better Balanced Blood Sugar The fermentation process used to make sourdough produces organic acids, such as lactic and acetic acids, which help slow the absorption of starch in the digestive tract.
-
Major manufacturers are reformulating for the GLP-1 consumer with smaller portions, more protein, and less sugar and refined starch, which shifts the composition of the American food supply toward lower-emission inputs.
Noun
-
Zeolite absorbs excess oil while silk powder creates airy body and grit, making limp hair look instantly fuller and more lived-in.
-
The Liberty’s tunnel is especially a sight because their tunnel style often lives in between a stretch of femininity and New York grit.
Noun
-
These small, high-energy pups have plenty of spunk and a big heart.
-
Hsu’s voice performance also gives Kristen spunk in these scenes, while Sharpe brings an unexpected vulnerability to AJ.
Noun
-
As Riese observed in an excellent round-up from Autostraddle, this magazine was best known for a certain gumption.
-
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.
Noun
-
The opening acoustic guitar plucks were full in the lower frequencies while showing enough treble finesse to convey fine string texture.
-
With every pluck, the strings seem to vibrate in the air in front of you, blurring like bees’ wings.
Noun
-
Thank you for a plethora of news on June 17 that didn’t crush our spirits.
-
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.
Noun
-
Together with piecemeal tax increases, the framework left little room for big policy initiatives requiring meaningful spending.
-
Ongoing initiatives will address attendance and ongoing chronic absenteeism, Watkins said.
Noun
-
The strong push towards self-reliance and controlling technical standards stemmed from lessons learned from the US-China trade war.
-
When the family moved from Ohio after his freshman year, Klugo’s self-reliance helped elevate the tennis team.
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
