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
In chaotic periods, the knee-jerk reaction is to go narrower and defensive.
—
Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
Swanson is a healthy player, Counsell said, and the manager wound up subbing him in as the automatic runner at second base for Saturday’s 10th inning against the San Francisco Giants.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
7 June 2026
-
Furthermore, hoisting the trophy would secure the final crucial points needed to grant her automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.—
Bob Buttitta,
Daily News,
7 June 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
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
-
Upstairs, the 2,940-square-foot western bar Big Shots features line dancing, beer and a mechanical bull.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
But for a pivotal game four of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, spontaneous outdoor gatherings won’t be allowed in front of the team’s famed arena.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
-
Now the line gets its third generation, designed to be tossed in a bag and pulled out for spontaneous, screen-free moments.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jacques Chirac was famous for his warmth, appetite and instinctive connection with crowds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
That sense of responsibility, quiet, enduring, almost instinctive, runs through Giglio in ways that are hard to name but easy to recognize.—
Valentina Di Donato,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Blue Origin is gearing up to send a robotic prototype of the vehicle, called Blue Moon Mark 1, to the lunar surface later this year, to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Three days ago, Blue Origin also won a major contract to carry two robotic landers to the moon for NASA on missions scheduled to launch later this year.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Brexton Busch, the 11-year-old son of NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch, did something for the first time since the sudden and tragic passing of his father.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
His wife looks at me with sudden seriousness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The top job on the list is car technician and mechanic, with a median hourly wage of almost $24.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
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The van then moved from the Otay Mesa store to a spot on the street near a mechanic shop on Coolidge Avenue in National City.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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