instinctive

adjective

in·​stinc·​tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or being instinct

2

: prompted by natural instinct or propensity : arising spontaneously

an instinctive fear of innovation

—V. L. Parrington

instinctively adverb

Synonyms

• automatic
• instinctual
• involuntary
• knee-jerk
• mechanic
• mechanical
• robotic
• spontaneous

Choose the Right Synonym for instinctive

spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation.

spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

Examples of instinctive in a Sentence

Cats have an instinctive desire to hunt.

the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children

Recent Examples on the Web

The collection represents my father’s instinctive ability to identify and connect with greatness. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024

The noise disrupts a dog's sensitive hearing, and their instinctive reaction is often to bark, hide, or flee. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

Combining his two-metre frame with those instinctive reflexes, Mamardashvili can look unbeatable on his day, frustrating Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at various points throughout the year. —Thom Harris, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024

In other words, the best answer is the one that comes straight from our heart and reflects our honest, intuitive, and instinctive views on their questions. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

instinctive

adjective

in·​stinc·​tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or being instinct

2

: resulting from or caused by instinct

instinctively adverb

Medical Definition

instinctive

adjective

in·​stinc·​tive in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or being instinct

2

: derived from or prompted by instinct

an instinctive fear

instinctively adverb