instinctive

[in-stingk-tiv]

See more synonyms for instinctive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

Also in·stinc·tu·al

[in-stingk-choo-uh l] /ɪnˈstɪŋk tʃu əl/.

Origin of instinctive

First recorded in 1640–50; instinct¹ + -ive

Related formsin·stinc·tive·ly, in·stinc·tu·al·ly, adverbhalf-in·stinc·tive, adjectivehalf-in·stinc·tive·ly, adverbnon·in·stinc·tive, adjectivenon·in·stinc·tive·ly, adverbnon·in·stinc·tu·al, adjectivenon·in·stinc·tu·al·ly, adverbsem·i-in·stinc·tive, adjectivesem·i-in·stinc·tive·ly, adverbun·in·stinc·tive, adjectiveun·in·stinc·tive·ly, adverbun·in·stinc·tive·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for instinctive on Thesaurus.com

2. spontaneous, intuitive, unpremeditated.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for instinctively

Contemporary Examples

Or perhaps we instinctively classify Cubans as a people accustomed to being told what it is they need and want.
Castro's Hipster Apologists Want to Keep Cuba ‘Authentically’ Poor
Michael Moynihan
December 18, 2014
And he instinctively understood the marketplace—whether of ideas or something more concrete.
Oh Yes, He’s The Great Connector: Jason Hirschhorn’s Expertly Curated World
Lloyd Grove
October 17, 2014
As citizens of a multiethnic country that is only about 60 percent ethnic Persian, every Iranian instinctively understands this.
Iran Is the Biggest Loser in Iraq
Aki Peritz
June 15, 2014
Instinctively, Obama talks about rising inequality, global warming, and attacks on college campuses.
Obama Can Speak to His Base, but Other Americans Want More
Lloyd Green
May 12, 2014
But when I pulled her toward me to comfort her and tell her that I was sorry, she instinctively flexed her muscles to deflect me.
When An Adopted Child Won’t Attach
Tina Traster
May 2, 2014

Historical Examples

At this ominous sight, I instinctively seized the bitts for protection.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
He had heard many descriptions of him and he knew him instinctively.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
Instinctively the girl looked to Kirkwood; then shifted her glance to their host.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
Instinctively she put her head out of the window to look back at them.
The Incomplete Amorist
E. Nesbit
Tom instinctively slipped behind the trunk of the great oak.
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold

British Dictionary definitions for instinctively

instinctive

instinctual

adjective

of, relating to, or resulting from instinct
conditioned so as to appear innatean instinctive movement in driving

Derived Formsinstinctively or instinctually, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for instinctively

instinctive

adj.

1610s (implied in instinctively), from Latin instinct-, past participle stem of instinguere (see instinct) + -ive. Related: Instinctiveness.

instinctive

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}instinctive

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for instinctively

Contemporary Examples

Or perhaps we instinctively classify Cubans as a people accustomed to being told what it is they need and want.

And he instinctively understood the marketplace—whether of ideas or something more concrete.

As citizens of a multiethnic country that is only about 60 percent ethnic Persian, every Iranian instinctively understands this.

Instinctively, Obama talks about rising inequality, global warming, and attacks on college campuses.

But when I pulled her toward me to comfort her and tell her that I was sorry, she instinctively flexed her muscles to deflect me.

Historical Examples

At this ominous sight, I instinctively seized the bitts for protection.

He had heard many descriptions of him and he knew him instinctively.

Instinctively the girl looked to Kirkwood; then shifted her glance to their host.

Instinctively she put her head out of the window to look back at them.

Tom instinctively slipped behind the trunk of the great oak.

instinctive

instinctual

Word Origin and History for instinctively

instinctive

adj.

Origin of instinctive