as in reflex
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Recent Examples of Pavlovian
The clack-clack-clack of the spinning wheel and the announcing of the winning number tends to elicit a Pavlovian response from the audience.
—
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
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But ultimately, the week ended with a pretty good array of extremes in selling pressure and hedging demand of the sort that should turn the risk-reward more favorable for a reflex bounce before too long.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
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The reflex reaction would be to suggest that without Stiller and Goretzka, Germany lost control in midfield.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In certain cases, though, holding back can be a subconscious defense mechanism—your mind’s way of protecting you from being let down, Lurie says.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2025
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But on a subconscious level, does Rick maybe recognize the possibility that Jim is his father, not his father's murderer?—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His skating is visceral, a captivating balance of suave and violent athleticism, of contagious fun and technical brilliance.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The issue of possible unmarked graves on the site has given the dispute its most visceral edge.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As the protagonist Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1968), Duane Jones unveiled a distinct facet of pre-conditioned Black martyrdom.—
Malik Peay,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2023
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Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
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The workmanship shows in the color and precision of the grout, the mottling of dark flecks, and the triangular pieces where the arches meet — details that give the façade a subliminal liveliness.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
5 Mar. 2025
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Both these men think of interiors as subliminal ways to read someone’s psyche.—
Maya Ibbitson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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After the process, her skin shouldn’t be as reactive.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Turning your customer experience from reactive to anticipatory is a key differentiator.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His head collided with the knee of White Sox second baseman, Al Weiss, and he was knocked unconscious.—
Raymond Daniel Burke,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2025
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Francis had ruled out intubation, which would mean being kept unconscious, the leader of the medical team, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, said in an interview.—
Jason Horowitz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Many of these duties are automatic, such as confidentiality between professionals (e.g. doctors, lawyers and accountant and their clients).—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Request an automatic extension while filing through IRS Free File. File Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return by mail, through an e-filing option or with a tax professional.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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