as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
But the staging of the fight is awkward, and seems to be going out of its way to protect Wendy, who’s super strong and fast yet doesn’t have any training (nor the killer instincts of her opponent).
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
Could Rhodes muster up some killer instinct to put Cena away?
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Similar deal, albeit acting secrets instead of killer instinct?
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
Could Rhodes muster up some killer instinct to put Cena away?
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Similar deal, albeit acting secrets instead of killer instinct?
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
-
Sugar, as opposed to the natural starches within root crops, has a lower freezing point.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Refrigeration can convert starches into sugars, altering the flavor and texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For most of the game, grit and luck seemed to be on the Nittany Lions’ side.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Smoky and savory, our Cowboy Pot Roast is equally at home served over mashed potatoes, grits, or rice.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
People on TikTok were taken by Reagan's sudden spunk.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
-
Howard preferred simmer to boil, sugar to sass, and never lacked spunk.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, opponents of zero-defect culture question whether officers who survive in today’s system have the gumption and risk-taking instincts to win the next big war.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Fitzgerald’s gumption as a deep field-goal kicker was tested with the Panthers up, 7-0, and having all the momentum.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The judge relented in the face of his daughter’s determination, perhaps more than a little proud of her patriotic pluck.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Directed by Sylvain White and featuring early performances from Meagan Good, Ne-Yo, and Chris Brown, the film celebrates movement as both self-expression and a path toward belonging—perfect for the spirit of Homecoming season.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Simons didn’t let a lack of minutes early in his career ruin his spirit.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The song has been released in partnership with advocacy group GLAAD to celebrate Spirit Day, an annual initiative that harnesses influential voices to stand against the bullying of LGBTQ+ youth and families.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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Government investment into cultural initiatives, especially in Saudi Arabia, which is in the throes of its economic diversification plan, Vision 2030, is also propelling new talents onto the international scene.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The West has arrived not as a singular arsenal, but as one vector in a survival strategy built on redundancy and self-reliance.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Oct. 2025
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China doesn’t just have the ability to soak up punishment from the US in the form of tariffs and sanctions — the culmination of decades of Chinese industrial policy aimed at self-reliance in core technologies.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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