as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
a colleague known for her knee-jerk rejection of any proposal that she didn't originate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knee-jerk
Andrey Zvyagintsev, one of the most gifted Russian filmmakers of his generation, answers the question so decisively as to quell any knee-jerk remake fatigue.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2026
If teams implemented quick hooks, a 162-game season would be defined by its knee-jerk reactions.
—Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The knee-jerk assumption that there must be something sinister happening in the boys’ chat is one that’s hard to shake.
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
In chaotic periods, the knee-jerk reaction is to go narrower and defensive.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2026
If teams implemented quick hooks, a 162-game season would be defined by its knee-jerk reactions.
—Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The knee-jerk assumption that there must be something sinister happening in the boys’ chat is one that’s hard to shake.
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
In chaotic periods, the knee-jerk reaction is to go narrower and defensive.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
In the early stages of a relationship, self-expansion is largely automatic, as new partners are most inclined at this point to learn about each other’s unfamiliar interests, social circles, habits and ideas.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Under Texas election law, an automatic recount occurs only in the case of a tie; otherwise, a candidate must formally request one.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
But for a pivotal game four of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, spontaneous outdoor gatherings won’t be allowed in front of the team’s famed arena.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
-
Now the line gets its third generation, designed to be tossed in a bag and pulled out for spontaneous, screen-free moments.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jacques Chirac was famous for his warmth, appetite and instinctive connection with crowds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
That sense of responsibility, quiet, enduring, almost instinctive, runs through Giglio in ways that are hard to name but easy to recognize.—
Valentina Di Donato,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
During the exercise, robotic dogs performed triage assessments of combat injuries.—
Zita Ballinger Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Their technology, christened the Liquid Metal Magnetohydrodynamic Actuator (LIMA) pump, is a miniature soft pump designed to replace bulky compressors and rigid pumping systems that currently limit soft robotic technologies.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Brexton Busch, the 11-year-old son of NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch, did something for the first time since the sudden and tragic passing of his father.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
His wife looks at me with sudden seriousness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Their maternal grandfather was a race-car driver and mechanic, and their father was a photographer for Street Chopper Magazine.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
From a young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie to Jim Nabors as the well-meaning mechanic Gomer Pyle, the show launched careers and spinoffs, won awards, and carved out a permanent place in pop-culture history.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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