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instinctive

 

Definitions from WordNet

Adjective instinctive has 1 sense
  1. natural, instinctive - unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct; "a cat's natural aversion to water"; "offering to help was as instinctive as breathing"
    Antonym: induced (indirect, via spontaneous)

Definitions from the Web

Instinctive

Description

Instinctive is an adjective that refers to something that is done automatically or naturally, without the need for conscious thought or learning.

Senses

1. Relating to Natural Behavior

In this sense, instinctive describes actions or responses that are innate or ingrained in an organism's behavior.

Example: The instinctive hunting skills of a lioness helped her catch her prey effortlessly.

2. Intuitive or Instinctual Knowledge

In this sense, instinctive is used to describe knowledge or understanding that is gained through intuition or instinct.

Example: His instinctive understanding of people's emotions makes him a great counselor.

3. Without Conscious Thought

In this sense, instinctive refers to actions or decisions that are made without conscious thought or deliberation.

Example: Her instinctive reaction to danger was to run and find a safe place to hide.

Usages

Popular Usage:

Instinctive behavior in animals is often observed and studied by biologists in their natural habitats.

Sample Sentence: The mother bird showed instinctive care by protecting her eggs from any potential danger.

Local Usage:

In the local community, people believe that certain actions, like throwing salt over the shoulder, are instinctive in warding off bad luck.

Sample Sentence: It is quite common in our town for people to have an instinctive fear of snakes due to previous encounters.

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