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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.

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Also in·stinc·tu·al [in-stingk-choo-uhl]. /ɪnˈstɪŋk tʃu əl/.

Origin of instinctive

First recorded in 1640–50; instinct1 + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM instinctive

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

Words related to instinctive

ingrained, innate, intuitive, impulsive, inherent, natural, visceral, spontaneous, accustomed, congenital, habitual, inborn, instinctual, intrinsic, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanical, native, normal, regular

Example sentences from the Web for instinctive

British Dictionary definitions for instinctive

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