instinctive

instinctive — adjective

1. describes an action or feeling that happens as a natural, automatic response wit

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes an action or feeling that happens as a natural, automatic response without needing to think about it or learn it beforehand

例句

When a loud noise came from the bush, Matthew's instinctive reaction was to freeze.

instinctive reaction + to-infinitive for automatic behaviour

Beatrix had an instinctive understanding of how to comfort crying children.

instinctive understanding of + wh-clause for natural ability

同義詞
  • automatic

    more general; can describe machines or processes as well as human actions

  • innate

    more formal; emphasises being born with a quality rather than just acting without thought

  • natural

    broader in meaning; can describe any characteristic that feels normal, not only spontaneous reactions

  • intuitive

    based on a gut feeling or inner sense rather than physical reflex; often used in creative or intellectual contexts

反義詞
  • deliberate

    done consciously and with careful thought — the opposite of automatic

  • learned

    acquired through experience, study, or training rather than present from birth

  • calculated

    planned in advance with a specific goal in mind

文法句型

instinctive + noun (reaction, response, feeling, distrust)

be + instinctive

用法筆記

Typically placed before the noun it modifies. Most often describes immediate physical reactions, emotional responses, or natural abilities. Unlike deliberate or planned actions, instinctive ones happen too quickly for conscious thought.

常見錯誤

❌She made an instinctive choice after carefully comparing prices.
✅She made an instinctive choice without looking at the price tags.
💡An instinctive decision involves no careful thought or comparison.
❌The puppy's instinctive behaviour was taught by its mother.
✅The puppy's instinctive behaviour appeared naturally without any teaching.
💡Instinctive behaviour is not learned or taught.