instincts

noun

plural of instinct
as in tendencies
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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 instincts Trust your instincts without going down the rabbit hole of confusion. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Your diplomatic instincts are useful, Libra, but don’t make the agreement so pleasant that nobody knows what was decided. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026 Your practical instincts are useful, Virgo, but don’t arrive with the whole plan already laminated. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026 The Bias Lens Framework is a way of making important decisions see more than the instincts of the people in the room. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Factor in the lack of safety-assistance-technology like backup cameras, and drivers are forced to rely on instincts and skill. — Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Quarterback Jaden Jefferson was left having to run for his life from the outset but used his instincts and intelligence to find ways to succeed. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 The Moon enters Pisces and your 1st House of Self, bringing your mood, body, instincts, and personal needs into focus. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 The lesson Philipps is taking from her experience is to gain knowledge and trust your instincts about your health. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instincts
  1. tendencies
  2. skills
  3. inclinations
  4. impulses
  5. dispositions
Noun
  • Wanda’s obsessive drive to succeed ignites her darker side and self-destructive tendencies that led to her drug addiction.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Your more shadowy tendencies are liable to pop out around this time, particularly the ones that stem from an insecure attachment style.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • That kind of collective learning is especially important in the era of AI as distinctly human skills like attention span, curiosity, judgment, empathy and collaboration become more valuable, Kavanagh and Danielson argued.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That means redesigning processes and workflows alongside the technology, investing in new skills and creating a culture where employees understand how AI can augment their work rather than simply automate it.
    — Jill Standish, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of skills
Noun
  • Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of inclinations
Noun
  • Trump has continued to demand lower rates, leading some to infer Warsh is holding off raising rates until after the November midterm election to unleash his hawkish impulses.
    — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Executive functioning refers to the mental skills people use to plan, organize, focus, decide, solve problems, regulate emotions and impulses, and complete multi-step activities.
    — Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulses
Noun
  • Earlier this year, Harrison Street sold a 12-property student housing portfolio for $910 million, one of the largest dispositions in the sector in recent years.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The state's Clean Slate legislation addresses the criminal records system itself, including procedures for identifying missing dispositions and correcting incomplete criminal history information.
    — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dispositions

Browse Nearby Words

instinctively
instincts
instinctual
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instincts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instincts. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All