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
And so are those making the projections, these knee-jerk assessments of draftees, and draft classes.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Calls for airport screening privatization may appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse in Congress.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Loveall, who runs Blissmode Fitness, added that the tattooed freckles were not a knee-jerk decision.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
As a result, the recovery in the airlines since the April 7 ceasefire may prove nothing more than a temporary, knee-jerk reaction.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Calls for airport screening privatization may appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse in Congress.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Loveall, who runs Blissmode Fitness, added that the tattooed freckles were not a knee-jerk decision.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
As a result, the recovery in the airlines since the April 7 ceasefire may prove nothing more than a temporary, knee-jerk reaction.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
Yale will be trying for its first title since the Ivy League started playing a postseason tournament in 2023, and the NCAA Tournament automatic bid that goes to the champion.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
President Pablo Longoria, sporting director Mehdi Benatia and head coach Roberto De Zerbi were portrayed as working in lockstep, and De Zerbi’s first season at the helm had concluded with Marseille securing automatic Champions League qualification for only the third time since 2013.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 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
-
Starship is meant to be fully reusable, with giant mechanical arms at the launch pads to catch the returning rocket stages.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
But energy itself – raucous, coordinated and diligently trained on every shot – seems largely spontaneous and self-generated.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
-
From scenic highways and spontaneous detours to roadside inns and vintage diners, road trips offer a certain kind of freedom and ambiance that a flight can simply never replicate.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
For me, composing is an instinctive, intuitive thing.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
The save looked instinctive, but technical details — the footwork, body rotation and hand selection — were what made the impossible possible.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
That starts with the robotic workforce.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Staff members are efficient without feeling robotic, and the hotel handles early arrivals, concierge requests, and lounge service especially well.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lake Baikal, often described as an inland sea because of its enormous size, is notorious for sudden storms and icy conditions even during tourist season, according to National Geographic.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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About 50,000 Americans experience sudden retinal detachment each year, requiring urgent surgery to avoid permanent vision loss.—
Peter Ubel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Eva Petzel, who will be an inspector working in Crown Point on election day, worked with mechanic Doug Kiser on a practice tutorial at the Lake County Government Complex on Saturday.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Voters will decide in November on whether the union leader and mechanic stays in the seat ahead of the 2027 legislative session.—
Lina Ruiz
May 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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