instinctive

[ in-stingk-tiv ]

/ ɪnˈstɪŋk tɪv /

SEE 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.

Words nearby instinctive

instil, instill, instillation, instillator, instinct, instinctive, institute, instituter, institutes, institution, institutional

Also in·stinc·tu·al

[in-stingk-choo-uhl] /ɪnˈstɪŋk tʃu əl/.

Origin of instinctive

First recorded in 1640–50; instinct¹ + -ive

SYNONYMS FOR instinctive

2 spontaneous, intuitive, unpremeditated.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR instinctive ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM instinctive

in·stinc·tive·ly, in·stinc·tu·al·ly, adverbhalf-in·stinc·tive, adjectivehalf-in·stinc·tive·ly, adverbnon·in·stinc·tive, adjective

non·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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for instinctively

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
The two horses, instinctively drawing close together, turned their tails to the driving flakes.
Two on the Trail|Hulbert Footner
Instinctively she knew that in that eleventh hour she must offer all she had.
The Safety Curtain, and Other Stories|Ethel M. Dell
Her heart began to beat with the fierce impulse of resistance which she instinctively opposed to every imagined slight.
Summer|Edith Wharton
He began raising the revolver again and the dazed Mel instinctively relayed power to the cart.
All In The Mind|Gene L. Henderson
He reminded his companion of some animal who instinctively draws itself together to avoid the enemy's detection.
The Opened Shutters|Clara Louise Burnham

British Dictionary definitions for instinctively

instinctive

instinctual

/ (ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv) /

adjective

of, relating to, or resulting from instinct

conditioned so as to appear innatean instinctive movement in driving

Derived forms of instinctive

instinctively 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

instinctive

adjective

Words related to instinctive

Words nearby instinctive

Origin of instinctive

SYNONYMS FOR instinctive

OTHER WORDS FROM instinctive

Examples from the Web for instinctively

British Dictionary definitions for instinctively

instinctual

adjective

Derived forms of instinctive