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instinctive
adjective
Synonyms
spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation.
spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.
impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.
instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.
automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.
mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.
Examples of instinctive in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instinctive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Instinctive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instinctive. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
instinctive
adjectiveMedical Definition
instinctive
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on instinctive
Nglish: Translation of instinctive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of instinctive for Arabic Speakers
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