as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
the birds' instinctual response is to fly away when startled
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Recent Examples of instinctual
The body’s instinctual urge to breath kicks in but the mind understands that breathing results in death, Sotomayor wrote, saying the method violates the Constitution’s ban against cruel and unusual punishment.
—
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Harrison referenced Freud’s theory of sublimation—the redirection of instinctual drives into more meaningful, productive forms.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
But with Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, Estrada is bolder, wilder, more instinctual.
—Cat Cardenas, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
The Cubs are athletic, instinctual and experienced, qualities that are magnified underneath the playoff spotlight.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Jackson threw it away on fourth down, almost like an instinctual reaction of panic.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
There’s an instinctual stitching that binds its many scenes together that build to a heartwrenching ending, culminating in neither a whimper nor a bang but a welcome sigh of relief.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Learning about this biological response showed me just how instinctual elimination communication is.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Bristol Bay watershed is a migration zone and the heartbeat of escapement, the instinctual cycle of salmon creating a sustainable migration pattern.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Harrison referenced Freud’s theory of sublimation—the redirection of instinctual drives into more meaningful, productive forms.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
But with Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, Estrada is bolder, wilder, more instinctual.
—Cat Cardenas, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
The Cubs are athletic, instinctual and experienced, qualities that are magnified underneath the playoff spotlight.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Jackson threw it away on fourth down, almost like an instinctual reaction of panic.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
There’s an instinctual stitching that binds its many scenes together that build to a heartwrenching ending, culminating in neither a whimper nor a bang but a welcome sigh of relief.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Learning about this biological response showed me just how instinctual elimination communication is.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Bristol Bay watershed is a migration zone and the heartbeat of escapement, the instinctual cycle of salmon creating a sustainable migration pattern.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctual
Adjective
-
The technology included corrupt automatic shuffling machines that read cards and predicted which player had the best hand.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Choose from eight lighting modes—including twinkle, slow fade, steady glow, or flash—and even set an automatic shut-off timer.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The second, Lisa Pisano, received a mechanical heart pump in addition to the pig kidney in April 2024.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
-
That lighter frame allowed smaller motors and more compact batteries, creating cascading cost reductions throughout the mechanical system.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Not home in the physical sense, but in the ancestral one — that instinctive recognition that lives in the bones.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In Warhead, Wright explains how armed conflict impacts every part of our brain, from the instinctive reflexes of our reptilian brainstem to the cognitive and metacognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In each case, there's a recognition that some players might want to explore a game's world—to experience the characters, art, and dialogue that the developers worked so hard to craft—without struggling through mechanical reflex tests or grindy, repetitive challenges.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 Oct. 2025
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This realistic doctor’s coat has everything your aspiring doctor needs to give their patients a check-up, including a face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects (AAA batteries not included), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These mutations can be spontaneous, but the paternal age of a sperm donor can also be a factor.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The piece signals transformation, but the spontaneous laugh turns luxury into connection; by the red-gown reveal, the necklace reads less like a trophy and more like a charm that’s worked.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The maps are also designed around Black Ops 7’s new wall jump mechanic.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Crowson said the suspect then drove to an area about two and a half miles north of the mechanic shop, where police received a report of another shooting.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These tests demonstrate reliable, multifunctional soft robotic performance integrating motion, grabbing, and adaptive optical control.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Although all three videos include audio, none of it quite syncs up with what’s on-screen, and ChatGPT’s robotic narration is particularly jarring.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Most aneurysms are symptom-free, but sudden severe headaches or vision changes can signal a life-threatening rupture.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instinctual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctual. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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