as in overambitiousness
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Recent Examples of killer instinct
The stoicism, resilience and killer instinct that turned Klonowski from an outsider into a reliable force encounter their toughest test to date entering the NCAA Championships.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
So many opponents would have wilted in that moment, unable to stand up to James’ determination or Dončić’s killer instinct.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s appearance on this list is a reflection of the desire for fresh dynamism and more killer instinct down the left-hand side of the attack.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
So many opponents would have wilted in that moment, unable to stand up to James’ determination or Dončić’s killer instinct.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s appearance on this list is a reflection of the desire for fresh dynamism and more killer instinct down the left-hand side of the attack.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer instinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer instinct
Noun
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Source of resistant starch: Green bananas are a significant source of resistant starch, a fiber the digestive tract cannot break down.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
25 June 2025
-
The top grain-free cat foods contain carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, potato starch and green peas.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Noun
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This formula strikes the perfect balance between grit and hydration—natural sea salt boosts volume and definition, while moringa seed oil helps lock in moisture and adds a healthy sheen to curls and waves.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
30 June 2025
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Fatigue is reframed as grit, while emotional exhaustion is labeled as discipline, and recovery is viewed as optional.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
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His band, which included former San Diego guitarist Jose Rios, played with spunk and well-calibrated precision whether delivering uptempo funk and hip-hop numbers, tender R&B love songs or slinky reggae grooves.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
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Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The critics may be talking tough now, but Thune is betting that some of them won’t have the gumption to block the bill on the Senate floor and risk having Trump’s anger rain down on them through social media.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
26 June 2025
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The move made logical sense but still required some gumption.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Noun
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The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2025
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But Belvidere is roaring back because of its own pluck.—
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 May 2025
Noun
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The fun-loving spirit of the shimmery product was captured in the punky campaign, inspired by the 2012 thriller in which Gomez starred alongside Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
8 July 2025
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The same spirit that saved my education, that ensures your holiday package arrives on time, could be written out of the equation altogether.—
Shekar Natarajan,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Companies that recently scrapped DEI initiatives These businesses followed on the heels of the initial wave of companies removing diversity, equity and inclusion policies.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
14 July 2025
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What was previously a greenspace devoted to T-ball is now the six-court sprawl devoted to this popular paddle, net and court sport called pickleball, included in the $25 million recent enhancement plan for the existing park landscapes in the city-funded by the rePLAY initiative.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Such academic collaborations were not contradictory to the North Korean credo of Juche (self-reliance) but rather a means of furthering the resilience capacity of the country’s ecological system which inherently transcends borders.—
Saleem H. Ali,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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Stacy sought to foster emotional and physical self-reliance among its campers, according to Texas Monthly, which cited an old brochure from her time.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killer instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer%20instinct. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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