How to Use killer instinct in a Sentence

killer instinct

noun
  • Her killer instincts have helped her become one of the top tennis players in the world.
  • With that said, the Bucks have lacked a killer instinct all playoffs long.
    Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2021
  • The killer instinct of this team, maybe for lack of a better term, has been missing for the last few years.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2019
  • With the ball moving and the team in sync, Davis showcased her killer instinct when given the chance to strike.
    Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
  • If anything, that just shows that Lonzo has the killer instinct to survive in the NBA.
    Jack Moore, GQ, 13 Dec. 2017
  • And Carolina has lacked the killer instinct when playing with a lead.
    Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, 15 Dec. 2017
  • Weight: 253 pounds Edmunds doesn't quite have Smith's killer instinct.
    Peter Dawson, star-telegram, 13 Mar. 2018
  • Aaron Paul plays the guy who helps Sarah hone her killer instinct in a film about identity and fighting for one's life.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2022
  • Sahli said Rowdy also has the killer instinct, once even catching a bat.
    Kate Selig, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022
  • The third-year forward also has a confidence and a killer instinct that made him a favorite of Kobe Bryant.
    Tania Ganguli, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2019
  • And the timing showed a killer instinct, perhaps a player sensing the moment.
    Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2018
  • And each has a killer instinct that plays well in individual play and team play.
    Steve Dimeglio, USA TODAY, 28 Sep. 2017
  • What makes Sam the Evolved Final Girl is precisely her killer instinct.
    Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
  • But that killer instinct has been lacking this year, both for Jackson and Baltimore as a whole.
    Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 24 Nov. 2020
  • Today was yet more proof that United too lack a chief creator, as well as a forward with a killer instinct.
    SI.com, 14 Sep. 2019
  • Whiteside is one of those players who has all the physical gifts, but lacks the killer instinct that will separate him from the pack.
    Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, 13 Dec. 2017
  • In 2007, Kushner’s killer instinct told him that the real-estate market had nowhere to go but up.
    Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, 20 Feb. 2018
  • That’s the type of confidence and killer instinct that separates the greats from really goods.
    Andy Nesbitt, For The Win, 26 Nov. 2019
  • Jordan's killer instinct was always on display; James likes being the nice guy.
    Jerry Brewer, chicagotribune.com, 9 May 2018
  • Gobert was even more succinct about the missing-in-action killer instinct.
    Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Dec. 2021
  • Mark Helfrich was an offensive wizard, but didn’t have the same killer instinct.
    Bill Oram, oregonlive, 22 Oct. 2022
  • This didn’t look much like the Bengals’ offense that had a killer instinct against the Bills in last week’s divisional playoff win.
    Mohammad Ahmad, cleveland, 29 Jan. 2023
  • Feared, at times hated, both men possessed killer instincts and had been with Neil almost from the beginning.
    Randy Lewis, latimes.com, 21 June 2019
  • Garrett finished sixth in the NFL with 13.5 sacks, but can still play with more killer instinct, say his former position coach.
    Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com, 29 July 2019
  • The Bengals lack of killer instinct on offense to wrap up games is a concern, but not too much of a concern to worry about moving forward.
    Mohammad Ahmad, cleveland, 15 Jan. 2023
  • Eve is a restless, incisive agent with killer instincts.
    Caroline Framke, Vox, 8 Apr. 2018
  • McCullers rises to the moment, Hinch said, with a ravenous killer instinct.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2017
  • Don’t tell Billy Joe Saunders either that Alvarez doesn’t have a killer instinct.
    Abraham Nudelstejer, Dallas News, 7 May 2023
  • In truth, Williams lacked the combination of total dedication and the killer instinct that makes for a first-rank politician.
    The Economist, 15 Apr. 2021
  • Sam is intent on curbing his killer instincts, chaining Alan to the floor of his basement and forcing him to conduct therapy sessions while detained.
    Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'killer instinct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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