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Showing results for knee jerk. Search instead for Knee+Jerk.
Definitions

knee jerk

NOUN
involuntary kick or reaction
Synonyms


knee-jerk
ADJECTIVE
automatic
Synonyms


NOUN
involuntary kick or reaction
Synonyms


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.

See Examples For:

“The knee jerk is likely disappointment, given the lack of acceleration in both billed business and revenue growth,” Foran said.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 24, 2026

“Investors do not want to see this and the negative knee jerk reaction is being seen,” Ives said of Alphabet stock’s drop.

From Barron's Jun. 22, 2026

"Everyone recognizes there is a growing antibiotic resistance crisis, and the knee jerk reaction is to develop new antibiotics," You added.

From Science Daily Feb. 22, 2024

But a former cabinet minister - strongly opposed to withdrawal - described the idea as "knee jerk nonsense".

From BBC Aug. 8, 2023

For all that, the cerebrum can exert an influence on the knee jerk.

From Psychology A Study Of Mental Life by Woodworth, Robert S.

Defence Secretary John Healey said he believed the prime minister could "still turn this around" while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned against a "knee-jerk reaction" to the results.

From BBC May 8, 2026

Oddly enough, “The Drama” was already resisting knee-jerk reactions before it was even properly released.

From Salon Apr. 9, 2026

Any sign that the war could continue has sparked a knee-jerk rise in yields, especially for shorter-term Treasurys that are particularly sensitive to shifts in the near-term outlook for interest rates.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 29, 2026

But Boivin argues the market’s knee-jerk reaction misses nuances within the broader AI theme.

From Barron's Feb. 17, 2026

Part of it was the new, knee-jerk anger, but mostly he was thinking of Lily.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss




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