Antonyms for instinctive
ɪnˈstɪŋk tɪv; -tʃu əlin·stinc·tive

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. instinctive

   That is spontaneous which is freely done, with no external compulsion and, in human actions, without special premeditation or distinct determination of the will; that is voluntary which is freely done with distinct act of will; that is involuntary which is independent of the will, and perhaps in opposition to it; a willing act is not only in accordance with will, but with desire. Thus voluntary and involuntary, which are antonyms of each other, are both partial synonyms of spontaneous. We speak of spontaneous generation, spontaneous combustion, spontaneous sympathy, an involuntary start, an unbidden tear, voluntary agreement, willing submission. A babe's smile in answer to that of its mother is spontaneous; the smile of a pouting child wheedled into good humor is involuntary. In physiology the action of the heart and lungs is called involuntary; the growth of the hair and nails is spontaneous; the action of swallowing is voluntary up to a certain point, beyond which it becomes involuntary or automatic. In the fullest sense of that which is not only without the will but distinctly in opposition to it, or compulsory, involuntary becomes an antonym, not only of voluntary but of spontaneous; as, involuntary servitude. A spontaneous outburst of applause is of necessity an act of volition, but so completely dependent on sympathetic impulse that it would seem frigid to call it voluntary, while to call it involuntary would imply some previous purpose or inclination not to applaud.

   Synonyms:
   automatic, free, impulsive, involuntary, spontaneous, unbidden, voluntary, willing

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 2 votes

1. instinctive

   Antonyms:
   cultivated, forced, reasoning, rationalistic

   Synonyms:
   natural, voluntary, spontaneous, intuitive, impulsive

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. natural, instinctiveadjective

   unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct

   "a cat's natural aversion to water"; "offering to help was as instinctive as breathing"

   Antonyms:
   induced

   Synonyms:
   innate(p), natural, raw(a), rude(a), born(p), lifelike

How to use instinctive in a sentence?

1. Peter Rice:

   Kimberly Godwin is an instinctive and admired executive whose unique experiences, strengths and strategic vision made Kimberly Godwin the ideal choice to lead the outstanding team at ABC News and build on their incredible success.

2. Mike Ingram:

   The growth outlook remains tepid at best and visibility is poor. Sentiment is now very fragile with the instinctive reflexive 'buy on dips' that has served investors well is now being supplanted by ‘sell the rally’, and that is precisely what we are seeing today.

3. Harriet Beecher Stowe:

   Mothers are the most instinctive philosophers.

4. Masao Miyazaki:

   When iridoid cocktails were applied on the bottom of dishes that were then covered by a punctured plastic cover, cats still exhibited licking and chewing even though they couldn't contact the chemicals directly, this means that licking and chewing is an instinctive behavior elicited by olfactory stimulation of iridoids.

5. Bertrand Russell:

   The main things which seem to me important on their own account, and not merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctive happiness, and relations of frendship or affection.

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