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 knee-jerk reaction is that Bednar has less margin for error after getting ousted early in the playoffs in the three seasons since winning the Stanley Cup.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
But if there is a leak within the FBI, who’s your knee-jerk pick?
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 26 Sep. 2025
These were knee-jerk reactions to an announcement that probably doesn’t change the status quo or backlogs for the foreseeable future, and who knows if this microfluidics technology can be done at scale.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
So if your knee-jerk reaction is to doomscroll for another hour, resist the urge.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
But if there is a leak within the FBI, who’s your knee-jerk pick?
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 26 Sep. 2025
These were knee-jerk reactions to an announcement that probably doesn’t change the status quo or backlogs for the foreseeable future, and who knows if this microfluidics technology can be done at scale.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
So if your knee-jerk reaction is to doomscroll for another hour, resist the urge.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
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The technology included corrupt automatic shuffling machines that read cards and predicted which player had the best hand.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Choose from eight lighting modes—including twinkle, slow fade, steady glow, or flash—and even set an automatic shut-off timer.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In each case, there's a recognition that some players might want to explore a game's world—to experience the characters, art, and dialogue that the developers worked so hard to craft—without struggling through mechanical reflex tests or grindy, repetitive challenges.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 Oct. 2025
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This realistic doctor’s coat has everything your aspiring doctor needs to give their patients a check-up, including a face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects (AAA batteries not included), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The second, Lisa Pisano, received a mechanical heart pump in addition to the pig kidney in April 2024.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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That lighter frame allowed smaller motors and more compact batteries, creating cascading cost reductions throughout the mechanical system.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These mutations can be spontaneous, but the paternal age of a sperm donor can also be a factor.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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The piece signals transformation, but the spontaneous laugh turns luxury into connection; by the red-gown reveal, the necklace reads less like a trophy and more like a charm that’s worked.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Not home in the physical sense, but in the ancestral one — that instinctive recognition that lives in the bones.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
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In Warhead, Wright explains how armed conflict impacts every part of our brain, from the instinctive reflexes of our reptilian brainstem to the cognitive and metacognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These tests demonstrate reliable, multifunctional soft robotic performance integrating motion, grabbing, and adaptive optical control.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
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Although all three videos include audio, none of it quite syncs up with what’s on-screen, and ChatGPT’s robotic narration is particularly jarring.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Most aneurysms are symptom-free, but sudden severe headaches or vision changes can signal a life-threatening rupture.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
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Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The maps are also designed around Black Ops 7’s new wall jump mechanic.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
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Crowson said the suspect then drove to an area about two and a half miles north of the mechanic shop, where police received a report of another shooting.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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