1. done without conscious thought; based on natural impulse rather than reasoning

Examples

• Her instinctive reaction was to protect her child from danger.
• He had an instinctive understanding of how machines worked.
• The cat’s instinctive hunting behavior emerged even as a kitten.
• She made an instinctive decision to trust him.
• His instinctive fear of heights kept him away from the cliff edge.
• The musician’s instinctive sense of rhythm impressed everyone.
• It was an instinctive response to duck when she heard the loud noise.