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Synonyms

intuitive

American  
[in-too-i-tiv, -tyoo-] / ɪnˈtu ɪ tɪv, -ˈtyu- /

adjective

  1. perceiving directly by intuition without rational thought, as a person or the mind.

  2. perceived by, resulting from, or involving intuition.

    intuitive knowledge.

    Synonyms:
    natural, inborn, innate
  3. having or possessing intuition.

    an intuitive person.

  4. capable of being perceived or known by intuition.

  5. easy to understand or operate without explicit instruction.

    an intuitive design;

    an intuitive interface.


intuitive British  
/ ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv /

adjective

  1. resulting from intuition

    an intuitive awareness

  2. of, characterized by, or involving intuition

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of intuitive

From the Medieval Latin word intuitīvus, dating back to 1585–95. See intuition, -ive

Explanation

If you're intuitive, you can probably guess what this word means just by looking at it. No? Maybe you're not so intuitive, after all. Intuitive means having the ability to understand or know something without any direct evidence or reasoning process. Psychics are intuitive. So are mothers when they know you're lying. A process can be said to be intuitive as well, if it can be easily learned without any prior training — like an easy-to-learn software program. In human beings, intuitiveness is often thought of as something more mystical, as in the ability psychics have to predict the future.

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Vocabulary lists containing intuitive

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.

Shares of space-exploration company Intuitive Machines dropped 4.1%.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The spacecraft chassis for Psyche's high power solar-electric propulsion system was provided by Intuitive Machines in Palo Alto, California.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

Among other space stocks, Intuitive Machines jumped 17% and Redwire surged 28%.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

"Goonhilly will provide the backbone for this network, scales our global ground presence, and will bring a strategic core competency to the Intuitive Machines team," said Steve Altemus, CEO of IM.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

For Locke there are ‘three degrees of Knowledge, viz. Intuitive, Demonstrative, and Sensitive: in each of which, there are different degrees and ways of Evidence and Certainty’.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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