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Synonyms

killer instinct

American

[kil-er in-stingkt] / ˈkɪl ər ˈɪn stɪŋkt /

noun

a strong drive to succeed in a competitive setting, particularly accompanied by a lack of regard for others.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

killer instincts

plural

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.

See Examples For:

killer instinct

Caused Scotland problems but missed a killer instinct.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

I have zero killer instinct and, like most Americans today, no military background.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025

But although City monopolised possession, they lacked a killer instinct and paid for a sloppy piece of defending in the 23rd minute.

From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025

Head coach Kevin Rouet has accused his team of being "too Canadian" – lacking the killer instinct to put matches beyond teams.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025

But the killer instinct is dead in fighters today and it has to be ignited.

From Vital Ingredient by Llewellyn

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.