REFLEX Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

reflex 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of reflex

as in reactive

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Dissimilar Words

reflex

2 of 2

noun

as in recoil

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reflex

Adjective

Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 May 2026 Gargling vigorously enough that your eyes water slightly engages the same reflex doctors use clinically to check vagal function. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026

Noun

That reflex is not necessarily the same with Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell or Bam Adebayo. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 There’s like this neuroendocrine reflex that goes from the skin up to the brain back to the tissue. — Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reflex

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reflex

Adjective

This is a dry fabrication technique that uses a chemically reactive plasma to remove material from a substrate.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
The four samples contained mixtures of reactive dyes rather than the single dyes frequently examined in previous stripping research.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of reactive

Noun

With too much shotgun recoil, shooters tend to pull their head off the stock or get inconsistent with their gun mount.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
When collagen weakens or elastin loses its recoil, skin cannot fully retract to fit the smaller frame underneath.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of recoil

Adjective

When cops arrived there they were told the man was unconscious and unresponsive when he was dumped there.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Zach Hickerson has since said Brian Hickerson administered Narcan to Panettiere after the brothers found her unconscious.

— Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconscious

Noun

There is also a sense of real revulsion and anger about the concentration of wealth at the top, and a sense of wanting to create a more egalitarian country … that speaks to a sense of fundamental human dignity.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
At the end of the third set, Gareth whispered into Marcy’s ear across the table, and her face took on a look of revulsion.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of revulsion

Noun

Matty Longstaff played a low ball into the area from the right side that was parried by Marcinkowski at the front post before Ríos tapped it the rebound from point-blank range.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
The rebound follows gold's sharp reversal from record highs of almost $5,600 earlier this year, and its worst quarterly perfomance since 2013 in the three months through June.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rebound

Adjective

Publications from the Times on down employ clickbait headlines that treat you like a starving rat in a Pavlovian experiment.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
O’Neill, who also has Pavlovian as a starter, named Cristian Torres to ride Robusta because Emisael Jaramillo had commitments at Santa Anita.

— Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026

Definition of Pavlovian

Adjective

Solms also makes a credible claim that Freud was right in speaking about a subconscious drive to seek pleasure.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
We are swayed by subconscious gestures that ultimately have no bearing on a person’s ability to do a job, like poor posture or a weak handshake.

— Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of subconscious

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Style

“Reflex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reflex. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of reflex

adjective

noun

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