killer instinct

ADJECTIVE

competitive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive ambitious competing cutthroat vying

WEAK

antagonistic at odds combative dog-eat-dog emulous killer opposing rival streetwise

Antonyms

WEAK

noncompetitive unambitious

ADJECTIVE

pitiless

Synonyms

WEAK

austere barbarous brutal callous cold coldblooded coldhearted cruel cutthroat dog-eat-dog frigid hardhearted harsh hatchetjob heartless implacable indifferent inexorable inhuman inhumane insensible mean merciless obdurate relentless remorseless ruthless satanic savage soulless stony

Antonyms

WEAK

charitable kind merciful sympathetic

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.

When the calendar flipped to 2025, Korda’s killer instinct shut back off.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Marc Cucurella has urged Chelsea to show a killer instinct after their failure to finish off Sunderland in Saturday's damaging 2-1 defeat.

From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025

The Rams have gotten tantalizingly close to winning at Detroit and Chicago, and at home against the Packers but so far they’ve lacked anything close to a killer instinct.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2024

But that killer instinct was regularly beat out of NPR journalists, regardless of the political mood or the president.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2024

But the killer instinct is dead in fighters today and it has to be ignited.

From Vital Ingredient by Llewellyn

killer instinct

Example Sentences

Related Words