instinctive

adjective

in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv How to pronounce instinctive (audio)
Definition of instinctivenext
as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word instinctive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of instinctive are automatic, impulsive, mechanical, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When is automatic a more appropriate choice than instinctive?

In some situations, the words automatic and instinctive are roughly equivalent. However, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

When might impulsive be a better fit than instinctive?

The meanings of impulsive and instinctive largely overlap; however, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

In what contexts can mechanical take the place of instinctive?

The words mechanical and instinctive can be used in similar contexts, but mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

Where would spontaneous be a reasonable alternative to instinctive?

While the synonyms spontaneous and instinctive are close in meaning, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instinctive The Vulcan became more emotionless, while William Shatner’s Kirk — who replaced Jeffrey Hunter’s Pike — became a little more instinctive. — Neil Oseman, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026 There is an instinctive appreciation for quality and craftsmanship; it is not treated as something exceptional, but as part of everyday life. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026 The instinctive Moon squares extravagant Jupiter, making a purchase, creative gamble, or spontaneous plan especially tempting. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026 First presented at the tail end of sessions for 2023’s In Times New Roman, it was captured on the second of just two takes, preserving a loose, instinctive performance from Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instinctive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instinctive
  1. automatic
  2. mechanical
  3. reflex
  4. spontaneous
  5. instinctual
  6. robotic
  7. mechanic
Adjective
  • Shortly after, Wilcox slammed on the brakes, jumped out of his vehicle, took out a loaded semi-automatic handgun and fired three gunshots at the officer, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But until recently, most automatic speech recognition (ASR) services with high-quality transcription only worked for a small number of them.
    — Richard Eisenberg, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • Related Stories Speaking at View Conference in Turin on Thursday, Hickel, who recently marked 30 years at ILM, detailed how the team mixed digital animation with physical sets, mechanical rigs and traditional stop-motion.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For example, changes in contact forces could indicate whether a screw has engaged correctly, while audio cues could help identify when a mechanical latch has clicked into place.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of mechanical
Adjective
  • The reflex sell-off after Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate hike gave the S&P 500 a momentary test of 7500, which proved a timely shakeout.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of reflex
Adjective
  • Harris also helped shape the movie’s imagination sequences, pushing Pixar’s artists toward more spontaneous, painterly images rather than the studio’s usual meticulous realism.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Johnson’s initial connection with EY CEO and Global Chair Janet Truncale was a spontaneous one.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • There’s an instinctual quality to how Navarrette has navigated her career thus far.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The downside is that these shifts are not situations where instinctual actions are superfluous.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of instinctual
Adjective
  • Boston Dynamics‘ prototype operation brings engineers and machinists together to develop, manufacture, assemble, and maintain robotic hardware.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Vatican has now said that those tests included a robotic bronchoscopic biopsy, meaning doctors had already taken tissue samples to assess whether the mass was cancerous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of robotic
Adjective
  • Parched fields force hydroponic growers, vegetable farmers and fruit producers to halt harvests, sell off underfed livestock at rock-bottom prices and even return to mechanic jobs to survive.
    — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There are exceptions and one is Hig (Elordi), who before the virus hit was a mechanic living a good life with his pregnant wife and new puppy.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mechanic

Browse Nearby Words

instinct
instinctive
instinctively
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Cite this Entry

“Instinctive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instinctive. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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