knee-jerk reaction

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.

That kind of knee-jerk reaction seems ripe to even out as panic gives way to more measured trading.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

“The knee-jerk reaction to the better jobs report was initial strength, then weakness,” said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at the Carson Group.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

If forcing his premature departure was really Glasner's intention then it has not worked with Palace refusing to make a knee-jerk reaction.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

“The initial knee-jerk reaction was one of worry,” Goldberg said.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 12, 2026

They didn’t just have a knee-jerk reaction to immediately respond to the text.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel