as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
a colleague known for her knee-jerk rejection of any proposal that she didn't originate
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Recent Examples of knee-jerk
Her words so galled many on the left, each column became a source of knee-jerk opposition online.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
The knee-jerk reaction is that Bednar has less margin for error after getting ousted early in the playoffs in the three seasons since winning the Stanley Cup.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
But if there is a leak within the FBI, who’s your knee-jerk pick?
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 26 Sep. 2025
These were knee-jerk reactions to an announcement that probably doesn’t change the status quo or backlogs for the foreseeable future, and who knows if this microfluidics technology can be done at scale.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
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Membership is automatic for first-time guests who book a stay at rates running $3,000 to $5,000 a night for up to 10 people.—
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In 2024, some 45% of participants boosted 401(k) deferrals — on their own or as part of their plan’s automatic increases — according to Vanguard’s 2025 How America Saves report, which is based on more than 1,400 plans and nearly 5 million participants.—
Adjective
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Or just a reflex mean-reversion trade in some laggard sectors at a time when the AI theme has become more fragmented and treacherous?—
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As a result, reflex time — a mechanic that emulated the slow-motion gunfights of Hard Boiled or The Matrix, or bullet time from Remedy’s Max Payne (2001) — would be a defining aspect of F.E.A.R.’s gameplay.—
Adjective
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Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
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Products like tractors, sprayers, irrigation equipment, mechanical pickers and fertilizer will also be exempt from the tax with the new cards.—
Adjective
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Staff check in with you each morning and evening to tailor your day to your energy, mood, and goals, whether that's heli-fishing at dawn, a forest bathing session, or a spontaneous helicopter ride for a picnic on a glacier.—
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However, spontaneous and induced sleep promoted genome stability, suggesting that the evolution of sleep may have occurred to repair DNA damage and reduce cellular stress in simple nerve nets.—
Adjective
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The 6-foot, 195-pound versatile playmaker is instinctive, capable of quickly diagnosing layered route concepts, and will bait quarterbacks into making a mistake.—
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For Madhurima Chakraborty, attending the impromptu protest was instinctive in the wake of Midway Blitz.—
Adjective
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For example, China has tested a satellite with a robotic arm that can shift other satellites into a different orbit.—
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There were several such facilities at the time that were developing simulation centers with very sophisticated, six-figure robotic mannequins, on which training is done in low-stress environments for nurses, physicians and other healthcare providers.—
Adjective
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Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
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The engine, freed from its hook by a sudden hard, precise kick, quickly sank into the river, pulling the cord tight and dragging the foreman underwater.—
Adjective
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Car lots, mechanic shops, and cafes line a forlorn stretch of Route 66 in central Amarillo, but vibrant art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, a bookstore, and record shop are concentrated in a lively 13-block strip of the famed highway west of the central business district.—
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In June 2020, the 72-year-old former police officer and mechanic pleaded guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder and other crimes in order to avoid the death penalty.—
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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