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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·stinc·tive       (ĭn-stĭngk'tĭv)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Of, relating to, or prompted by instinct. Arising from impulse; spontaneous and unthinking: an instinctive mistrust of bureaucrats. in·stinc'tive·ly adv. Synonyms: These adjectives mean derived from or prompted by a natural tendency or impulse: an instinctive fear of snakes; instinctual behavior; an intuitive perception; visceral revulsion. See Also Synonyms at spontaneous.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

instinctive

adjective

unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct; "a cat's natural aversion to water"; "offering to help was as instinctive as breathing" [syn: natural]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Instinctive

In*stinc"tive\, a. [Cf. F. instinctif.] Of or pertaining to instinct; derived from, or prompted by, instinct; of the nature of instinct; determined by natural impulse or propensity; acting or produced without reasoning, deliberation, instruction, or experience; spontaneous. "Instinctive motion." --Milton. "Instinctive dread." --Cowper.

With taste instinctive give Each grace appropriate. --Mason.

Have we had instinctive intimations of the death of some absent friends? --Bp. Hall.

Note: The terms instinctive belief, instinctive judgment, instinctive cognition, are expressions not ill adapted to characterize a belief, judgment, or cognition, which, as the result of no anterior consciousness, is, like the products of animal instinct, the intelligent effect of (as far as we are concerned) an unknown cause. --Sir H. Hamilton.

Syn: Natural; voluntary; spontaneous; original; innate; inherent; automatic.