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
Pundits with knee-jerk reactions against President Trump's proposal need to ask, why should John Deere receive special treatment for outsourcing production?
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Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Her injury had become a burden on the group, and so Katie’s [ahem] knee-jerk response to Steve’s mistake was to try and absorb all of that inconvenience.
—Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
Most people don’t actually think this through when making knee-jerk reactions based on emotions.
—Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024
Most importantly, never let yourself be rushed into making a knee-jerk reaction, no matter how much urgency is injected into a conversation.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knee-jerk 
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Her injury had become a burden on the group, and so Katie’s [ahem] knee-jerk response to Steve’s mistake was to try and absorb all of that inconvenience.
—Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
Most people don’t actually think this through when making knee-jerk reactions based on emotions.
—Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024
Most importantly, never let yourself be rushed into making a knee-jerk reaction, no matter how much urgency is injected into a conversation.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
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Some would offer only a few settings and didn’t have an automatic shutoff timer option either.Ali Faccenda, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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Worth mentioning: After UT received more than 70,000 applications this year, the university tightened its enrollment requirements, approving only the top 5% of each high school senior class for automatic admission for applicants in 2026.Asher Price, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For one thing, markets had not significantly anticipated a Trump win in 2016, and indeed there was a reflex selloff on election night, which quickly reversed.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
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Based on the title character from the Netflix show Vida the Vet, this kit contains five sensory toys for treating patients, including a stethoscope with sound effects and reflex hammer.Pamela Brill, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The Office of the State Fire Marshal is responsible for enforcing codes, standards and regulations to reduce the harm associated with fires, explosions and mechanical failures.Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 30 Nov. 2024
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This wireless keyboard packs backlit keys, wired or wireless connectivity, and low-profile mechanical switches in your choice of tactile quiet, clicky, or linear.Simon Hill, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Honolulu in Hawaii—which was named as the state that most Americans want to visit in a survey this summer—was the least spontaneous U.S. travel destination.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
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For example, spontaneous virtual coffee chats can help supplement social connections.Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And the decision of how a body is recorded and presented is something humans alone have an instinctive understanding of.Will Tizard, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
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One source of Trump’s instinctive, inimitable political talent is that, for him, oratory and advertisement are entirely coeval domains.Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Would there be robotic surgeries or emergency ambulances?Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Generic garbage with weird phrases and a robotic structure.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These sudden eruptions of random violence seem inspired by GSC’s own experiences having to stop work to flee to bomb shelters and finding previously peaceful streets marred by the war.Issy van der Velde, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
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That part of the tale is set in motion with a sudden squall – chillingly rendered by thunder cracks (kudos to John Shivers’ sound design) and flashes of lightning (ditto to lighting designer Kevin Adams).Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Harroun installed it with a bracket above the dashboard rather than have a mechanic ride in the race with him, as was the custom of the day.George Petras, USA TODAY, 24 May 2024
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When Part 4 was released in August 2023, mechanic Bennie was losing his garage.Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near knee-jerk
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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