as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
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
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest ever to pick up a basketball, given his illustrious resume, but another major facet that has added to the lore surrounding him is his killer instinct and competitive nature.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest ever to pick up a basketball, given his illustrious resume, but another major facet that has added to the lore surrounding him is his killer instinct and competitive nature.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
-
As bananas ripen and turn yellow, their starch converts into natural sugars.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Though results vary based on flour type, baking process, and other factors, the sourdough fermentation process generally raises bread's resistant starch content.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The appeal of Larsson lies less in her songcraft than in her got-it-out-the-mud performer’s grit.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Minnesota has suffered a dozen one-goal losses this season but been a tough out down the stretch, playing with notable resilience and grit since Canfield’s arrival.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An essay that lacks the rough edges, occasional clunky vocabulary, or endearing spunk of imperfect teenage writing can quickly indicate over-coaching (or, perhaps worse, the use of AI).—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
27 Feb. 2026
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Zero in on a slip dress that Bessette Kennedy (played with ravishing spunk by Sarah Pidgeon) wears on her first date with America’s Prince and premiere himbo people-pleaser, John F. Kennedy, Jr.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That takes a lot of gumption and nerves of steel.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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And thanks to the gumption of the SLF, the fair is set to proceed as planned despite Amazon’s departure.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 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
-
On the water, the 55-year-old mother seems to come alive, her adventurous spirit radiating outward, lighting her from the inside out.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Shouldn’t in-season improvement be well within the spirit of the Most Improved Player award?—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
State officials have approved a private initiative to transport the whale back to the North Sea and possibly further to the Atlantic.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Are there any standout sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Each effort strengthened his instincts for initiative and self-reliance.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Your Next Move Charlotte’s active community already has the discipline, self-reliance, and love of exploration that solo travel demands.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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