instinctive

[ in-stingk-tiv ]

See synonyms for: instinctive instinctively 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.

Origin of instinctive

First recorded in 1640–50; instinct¹ + -ive

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

Other words 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, adverb
half-in·stinc·tive, adjective
non·in·stinc·tive, adjective
non·in·stinc·tu·al, adjective
sem·i-in·stinc·tive, adjective
un·in·stinc·tive, adjective
un·in·stinc·tive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use instinctive in a sentence

He says it is impossible because it would be a non-instinctive act, and, as is well known animals act only through instinct.
Revolution and Other Essays | Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for instinctive

instinctive

instinctual

/ (ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv) /

adjective

of, relating to, or resulting from instinct
conditioned so as to appear innate: an 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

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