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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knee-jerk
Big market fluctuations are the worst time to make knee-jerk decisions about your long-term plans.
—
Hillary Stalker, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
There is no mistaking that the Democrats are on thin ice with their knee-jerk and obligatory nods to local prerogative.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Gonzalez's status has been the opposite of knee-jerk concern by the Boston sports media this summer.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Thoughtful analysis builds trust, avoids knee-jerk fixes and turns criticism into a roadmap for meaningful, user-centric improvement.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Hillary Stalker, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
There is no mistaking that the Democrats are on thin ice with their knee-jerk and obligatory nods to local prerogative.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Gonzalez's status has been the opposite of knee-jerk concern by the Boston sports media this summer.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Thoughtful analysis builds trust, avoids knee-jerk fixes and turns criticism into a roadmap for meaningful, user-centric improvement.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
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How teams stack up in the race for automatic bids, first-round byes and staying on the right side of the bubble.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Small and simple, the Magnifica is an automatic machine that can brew seven drinks, including espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and iced coffee.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The reflex trade was a textbook Fed-easing play to rotate out of big, expensive growth stocks and into lower-quality, more cyclical small-caps and financials .—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
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Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Weekday dinners, spontaneous hikes and running downhill with their dogs are all part of the routine.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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Our results suggest that children are actually capable of spontaneous logical strategy discovery much earlier when circumstances require it.—
Celeste Kidd,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That quiet, instinctive gesture of care — captured on video and later shared on TikTok — struck a chord with hundreds of thousands.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
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At its core, the novel is a philosophical search for harmony in a world where our intellectual side expects rational order, whereas the instinctive natural world follows its own principles.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The first mimics its real-life namesake by having a strong, flexible robotic arm.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
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But the country is now building toward a robotic lunar lander to be launched by a homegrown rocket, with a grander vision of establishing a moon base by 2045 as part of a long-term exploration road map released by KASA in August.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Sources close to the couple said the breakup was far from sudden.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Cynthia Quiles, who plays mechanic Frankie, is not known to have any romantic ties and hasn't spoken publicly about her personal life.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Kreider is refreshed to be teaching young folks who are engaged in mechanic work.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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