instinctive
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or of the nature of instinct.
-
prompted by or resulting from or as if from instinct; natural; unlearned.
an instinctive will to survive.
- Synonyms:
- unpremeditated, intuitive, spontaneous
adjective
-
of, relating to, or resulting from instinct
-
conditioned so as to appear innate
an instinctive movement in driving
Other Word Forms
- half-instinctive adjective
- instinctively adverb
- instinctually adverb
- noninstinctive adjective
- noninstinctual adjective
- semi-instinctive adjective
- uninstinctive adjective
- uninstinctiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of instinctive
First recorded in 1640–50; instinct 1 + -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In fact, the creature possesses an instinctive benevolence, which is corrupted by rejection.
"When we made 28 Days Later, it didn't feel like we were consciously trying to subvert tropes - it just felt instinctive," she says.
From BBC
For example, it might be instinctive to tell a street fundraiser you already donate to that charity or are too busy to stop.
From BBC
It is instinctive -- I give my teammate the ball.
From Barron's
The man whose instinctive act stopped the car that injured 134 fans at the Liverpool FC victory parade has insisted he was "not a hero".
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
