as in tendency
a usually innate ability or desire to perform a specific activity
Pouncing on mice is a cat's natural instinct. We needed all of our survival instincts to make it through the weeks lost at sea.
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Recent Examples of instinct
The feline's strong maternal instinct was captured in a video, later posted to TikTok on May 17 under @hellcatd6.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
The incident was indicative of what was to be for Horrigan a fruitful lifelong habit of allowing his instincts and interests to guide him.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 May 2025
And beyond Bryant’s playmaking instincts — three of his 10 touchdown grabs in 2024 were essentially game-winners — his versatility pops on tape, Neu said.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
There was already a deep instinct inside of me to self-generate.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
The incident was indicative of what was to be for Horrigan a fruitful lifelong habit of allowing his instincts and interests to guide him.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 May 2025
And beyond Bryant’s playmaking instincts — three of his 10 touchdown grabs in 2024 were essentially game-winners — his versatility pops on tape, Neu said.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
There was already a deep instinct inside of me to self-generate.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinct
Noun
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As the graph shows below, Bellingham, like most of Real Madrid midfielders, has a tendency to hold on to the ball, whereas Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen midfield is defined by quick and incisive short passes.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Though moderators control questioning during such forums, too, candidates have a tendency to end up chiming in on each other’s answers when seated next to each other.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
20 May 2025
Noun
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The class will teach skills needed to navigate Ozark streams and lakes large or small.—
Flip Putthoff,
Arkansas Online,
20 May 2025
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While many professionals focus on avoiding stress altogether, developing effective stress management skills provides a more realistic and beneficial approach.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Additionally, the Bank of Japan’s inclination to tighten its monetary policy, which collides with the Asian nation’s fiscal woes, also have a hand in fueling the bond sell-off, said Varathan.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
22 May 2025
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But state officials have shown no inclination toward making alterations. California earlier this month joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Federal Highway Administration and the Trump administration from withholding billions of dollars to expand electric vehicle infrastructure.—
Rob Nikolewski,
Mercury News,
21 May 2025
Noun
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When a gun is left unsecured, that impulse can turn fatal.—
Yolanda Androzzo,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
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But that impulse among individual investors has slowed in May, underscoring a sense of fatigue.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph, an attorney and policy analyst with the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute previously mentioned that the database doesn’t always have the final dispositions of cases.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC news,
15 May 2025
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Shutt says Ruby has the sweetest disposition and knows which office staff member has the best treats.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinct. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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