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
Be careful about knee-jerk reactions to others.
—
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2025
So my knee-jerk reaction when Drag Race goes full bore into sentimentality is to roll my eyes a bit and hunker down for a segment that doesn’t speak to me.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Smart, strategic moves will always beat knee-jerk reactions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Today, there can be knee-jerk horror when one of those potentially vulnerable people criticizes intimacy coordination at all.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2025
So my knee-jerk reaction when Drag Race goes full bore into sentimentality is to roll my eyes a bit and hunker down for a segment that doesn’t speak to me.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Smart, strategic moves will always beat knee-jerk reactions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Today, there can be knee-jerk horror when one of those potentially vulnerable people criticizes intimacy coordination at all.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
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Congress tried to address this issue by passing the Child Citizenship Act in 2000, which grants automatic citizenship to international adoptees.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2025
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This opens up the possibility of Wycombe either clinching automatic promotion before their two rivals play, or the door being prised open for either Wrexham or Charlton to nip through and set up a nerve-wracking final day.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But ultimately, the week ended with a pretty good array of extremes in selling pressure and hedging demand of the sort that should turn the risk-reward more favorable for a reflex bounce before too long.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
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The reflex reaction would be to suggest that without Stiller and Goretzka, Germany lost control in midfield.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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New talent: We were introduced to Lederer this year and were totally in awe of his amazing mechanical wonders.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Both edibles offer fresh garnishes for daily use or spontaneous hosting.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Apr. 2025
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Emerging from the city's urban landscape, his art is characterized by spontaneous compositions of pattern and form, often evolving through layers of spray paint, ink, and acrylic.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The team embodied a collaborative spirit where creativity and cohesion were instinctive, making the experience refreshingly effortless.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Shift from instinctive meaning-making to intentional meaning-making.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The lander's robotic drill and scoop collected 4.27 lbs (1.935 kilograms) of basaltic regolith from the SPA basin before returning it to Earth.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Or mostly robotic, at least—the fruit flies the researchers used would occasionally go their own way, despite strong inducements to stay with the program.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Several conditions may cause sudden vision loss, such as an eye injury.—
Heidi Cope,
Health,
19 Apr. 2025
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All of a sudden, something that was a huge source of joy in my grandparents’ life became a challenge.—
Katie Akin,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the footage, a large coastal carpet python rests on a mechanic shop's floor.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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His current mechanic shop is basically a retirement hobby, something to pass the time.—
Zach Helfand,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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