as in reflex
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Recent Examples of Pavlovian
The clack-clack-clack of the spinning wheel and the announcing of the winning number tends to elicit a Pavlovian response from the audience.
—
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
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Common triggers include dehydration from illness, vasovagal syncope—a reflex response to nausea or pain—abnormal heart rhythms, and heart valve conditions such as aortic stenosis.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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The reflex reaction might well be, What exactly have the governor and fellow Democrats been doing for the previous six years?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This subconscious tendency—holding space for a future partner while resisting real relationships—sheds light on why some people, despite craving love, never fully step into it.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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An intuitive understanding releases a pressure valve in your subconscious.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Lucas, however, wanted to combine the visceral feeling of high-speed World War II dogfights with the realism of 2001.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Her knockout performance carries The Substance, propelled by visceral desperation, rage and cruel suffering.—
Scott Feinberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As the protagonist Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1968), Duane Jones unveiled a distinct facet of pre-conditioned Black martyrdom.—
Malik Peay,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2023
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Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
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The two musicians recently traded subliminal messages across social media indicating that cheating may be an issue for one party.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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As in equine therapy, the connection between human and horse becomes more subliminal—not as a relationship based on domination, but one of mutual care and attunement.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Their decision-making tends to be reactive, risk-averse and focused on short-term survival rather than long-term success.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Brown-rot fungi leave the lignin largely intact but release highly reactive molecules that break down the cellulose, leaving behind a brown, crumbly substrate.—
Katarina Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The actress was unconscious and unresponsive, according to the New York Police Department.—
Brie Stimson,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
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This residual may stem from conscious or unconscious bias or other factors outside the scope of this research.—
Kweilin Ellingrud,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In one report broadcast on Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli soldiers can be seen working hand in hand with Syrian villagers to collect boxes of artillery rounds, automatic weapons, grenade launchers and other armaments.—
Uriel Heilman,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
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Hashtag United currently lead the division by three points and sit in the automatic promotion place into the second tier of the women’s game in England, the FA Women’s Championship.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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