instincts

noun

plural of instinct
as in tendencies
a usually innate ability or desire to perform a specific activity Pouncing on mice is a cat's natural instinct. We needed all of our survival instincts to make it through the weeks lost at sea.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instincts Ansolabehere and Viksten, who had attended UCLA and tried for years to break into Hollywood, would channel their cinematic storytelling instincts into the show. — Darryn King, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Headlining the show is the eccentric sheriff Kalmann, who uses unique instincts to solve murders. — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Given Lorre, Molaro and Holland’s success with The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, CBS trusted their creative instincts and had faith in a potential spin-off. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 His incredibly sharp eye for talent coupled with strong instincts and deep relationships are a dynamic combination for artist management. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026 The role of leadership is to create an environment where those instincts flourish. — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Her grandson, Noah, wants John to do the same thing, rather than give into his baser instincts. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026 The instincts that would define his name were already firmly set in place. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 When Latif’s wife dies, he’s immediately forced to tamp down on the instincts that have provided for his family and wade unsteady into a world of bottles, transport, and dinner time. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instincts
  1. tendencies
  2. skills
  3. inclinations
  4. impulses
  5. dispositions
Noun
  • Pressure, uncertainty and stress can change the way familiar strengths and behavioral tendencies show up.
    — Paula Johnston, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As one of several players vying for time at cornerback, Auslander knew his ability to read opposing offenses’ intentions and receivers’ tendencies was critical.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • Agent tech stack Other in-demand skills related to the AI build-out involve understanding tools and techniques that give agents the ability to get things done.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, a cross-curricular supplemental resource, the program equips students with practical clothing repair and customization skills, from sewing a button to patching a hole or tailoring a hem.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of skills
Noun
  • And a lot of the time, people who have these kinds of inclinations towards children are people who were children who were abused themselves.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The trustees feared that if something happened to him, his heir apparent, Robert Kahn, would replace him, and it was known that Kahn had Zionistic inclinations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of inclinations
Noun
  • The ability to manage one’s thoughts, regulate emotions, and restrain impulses is key to a happy and healthy life.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The impulses and outcomes of police work follow a choreographic sensibility as well.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of impulses
Noun
  • Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, Harrison Street sold a 12-property student housing portfolio for $910 million, one of the largest dispositions in the sector in recent years.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dispositions

Browse Nearby Words

instinctively
instincts
instinctual
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Cite this Entry

“Instincts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instincts. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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