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
Investors are also bracing for a knee-jerk stock selloff Monday, with analysts warning that surging oil prices and further escalation could trigger an extended rout.
—
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 June 2025
While tariffs are a legitimate concern for many companies, this kind of sharp drop is a textbook example of a knee-jerk reaction — and the market is full of them.
—Nishant Pant, CNBC, 20 June 2025
But a knee-jerk investment in AI could actually compound your risk.
—Vidya Plainfield, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
In another signal of fear subsiding in financial markets, the price of gold also gave back some of its knee-jerk climb from Friday, when investors were looking for someplace safe to park their cash.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 June 2025
While tariffs are a legitimate concern for many companies, this kind of sharp drop is a textbook example of a knee-jerk reaction — and the market is full of them.
—Nishant Pant, CNBC, 20 June 2025
But a knee-jerk investment in AI could actually compound your risk.
—Vidya Plainfield, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
In another signal of fear subsiding in financial markets, the price of gold also gave back some of its knee-jerk climb from Friday, when investors were looking for someplace safe to park their cash.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
This legislation will trigger automatic cuts to Medicare totaling $500 billion over eight years.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
But this went from an idea that was an automatic community win to an example of desperate nickel and diming.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
That leads to the second category: a simple reflex agent with state.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Some bass-heavy speakers can create an annoying booming sound from the reflex port at the rear of the speaker.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 July 2025
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Things like robot bartenders, a remarkable sightseeing capsule that rises on a 300-foot-long mechanical arm, and an extensive array of exciting activities are now available within driving distance.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Relatedly, many people become more open to spontaneous thinking in the evening, when the brain is less focused and inhibited.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
10 July 2025
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This exhilarating transit could spark a need for spontaneous self-expression and creative freedom.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
His high tackle-success rate and ability to recover loose balls highlight both positional awareness and sharp instinctive timing.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
The removal of living beings from their natural environment, along with the massive scale of human intervention, can be just as pernicious as the instinctive and selfish destruction that is often overlooked.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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What might this robotic world of the future look like?—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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One of the robotic arms then retrieves the items from storage and delivers them to the window within about 90 seconds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
The tragedy in Ruidoso highlights growing concerns about increasingly intense weather systems striking communities with little time to prepare for sudden surges of water.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
In one particularly raw moment, a woman studying the photographs let out a sudden shriek.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Another customer says the soap works wonders for their mechanic husband and is powerful enough to remove dirt and grease.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
10 July 2025
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Before becoming a cofounder, Hildreth worked in roles that many would dismiss as mundane: mechanic, logistics officer and government contractor.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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