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Showing results for instinctual.
Definitions

instinctual

[in-stingk-choo-uhl] / ɪnˈstɪŋk tʃu əl /
ADJECTIVE
instinctive
Synonyms
WEAK
accustomed by seat of one's pants congenital habitual impulsive inborn ingrained inherent innate intrinsic intuitional intuitive involuntary knee-jerk mechanical native natural normal regular rooted second-nature spontaneous typical unlearned unmeditated unpremeditated unprompted unthinking visceral

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.

“The Drama” demands discomfort before defying it, making for a sophisticated viewing experience that questions our instinctual judgments.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

I’m a really instinctual person and I get feelings — I feel like I’m a little psychic.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

“Yermak was more a sort of instinctual negotiator…Budanov has his instincts, but I think he’s going to be much more punctilious about the preparations.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

From the beginning, her style has always been instinctual; a freeform jam session where she sits at the piano or with her guitar and just lets her ideas flow out.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025

The great taboo against touching another’s dæmon was not instinctual but learned, then.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman