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
The commitment angst plaguing Charlie and Emma over Emma’s secret seems to have a lot to do with several contemporary concerns—mixed messaging about gender roles, confusion over what constitutes a moral failing—that yield knee-jerk responses.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Admittedly, my own knee-jerk reaction landed in this category.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The SaaSpocalypse, ultimately, was a knee-jerk, existential reaction to where AI is (slowly, in many contexts) dragging the tech stack.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
That chapter explores a young punk’s knee-jerk rejection of pop music.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Admittedly, my own knee-jerk reaction landed in this category.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The SaaSpocalypse, ultimately, was a knee-jerk, existential reaction to where AI is (slowly, in many contexts) dragging the tech stack.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
That chapter explores a young punk’s knee-jerk rejection of pop music.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
Advanced safety technology — lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, collision warnings and more — all add to the cost of a vehicle.—
Alexa St. John,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
There’s like an automatic thing to it.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The ten seconds that led to the Braylon Mullins’ miracle shot were a series of reflex plays, reactions, the ultimate in instincts taking over, living in the split second, rather than in the moment.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Because your nature is bold and spontaneous, aim your confidence at one specific outcome.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Videos show people approaching the robot on city streets to shake hands, ask questions, and record interactions for social media, with these spontaneous encounters becoming central to its appeal.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The instinctive Moon conjoins responsible Saturn in your 11th House of Humanity, guiding your interactions with teams and allies.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Quiet reflection supports inner strength as the instinctive Moon moves through your 12th House of Fantasy and sextiles tender Chiron in your 2nd House of Materialism.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Intuitive Surgical also conflicts with our recent initiation of Johnson & Johnson, which is seeking to enter the robotic surgery market.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
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In 2012, Lomas became the first person to complete the London Marathon by wearing a robotic suit to help her walk.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Church officials say the sudden loss of funding could force the organization to end its operations tied to migrant children within three months.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Brace positions are a safety protocol that flight attendants follow in case of accidents and sudden emergencies.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Potholes may go unfilled, Davis said, and drivers may have to make unplanned trips to the mechanic shop to fix their tires as a result.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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And soon after another brother and mechanic William Davidson joined the team.—
Ricardo Torres,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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