Categories: GeneralSynonyms

INSTINCT: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for INSTINCT?

Need another word that means the same as “instinct”? Find 22 synonyms and 30 related words for “instinct” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Instinct” are: urge, appetite, desire, need, natural tendency, inclination, drive, compulsion, talent, gift, ability, capacity, facility, faculty, aptitude, skill, flair, feel, genius, knack, bent, replete

Instinct as a Noun

Definitions of "Instinct" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “instinct” as a noun can have the following definitions:

  • Inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli.
  • A natural propensity or skill of a specified kind.
  • The fact or quality of possessing innate behaviour patterns.
  • An innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli.
  • A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking.

Synonyms of "Instinct" as a noun (21 Words)

abilityThe quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment.
A man of exceptional ability.
appetiteA feeling of craving something.
They suffered from loss of appetite.
aptitudeSuitability or fitness.
The aptitude of this society to assimilate new elements.
bentA special way of doing something.
He had a bent for it.
capacityThe maximum amount that something can contain.
The room was filled to capacity.
compulsionThe action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint.
The payment was made under compulsion.
desireSomething desired.
A man of many desires.
driveHitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver.
Emotional and sexual drives.
facilityA natural effortlessness.
They conversed with great facility.
facultyOne of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind.
The law faculty.
feelFeelings of heightened emotion.
It s easy when you get the feel of it.
flairStylishness and originality.
She had a flair for languages.
geniusAn exceptionally intelligent person or one with exceptional skill in a particular area of activity.
That woman has a genius for organization.
giftSomething acquired without compensation.
Wedding gifts.
inclination(geometry) the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line (measured counterclockwise from the positive half of the x-axis.
Changes in inclination of the line on the graph.
knackA tendency to do something.
He had a special knack for getting into trouble.
natural tendencySomeone regarded as certain to succeed.
needA state of extreme poverty or destitution.
God has no need of men to accomplish His work.
skillA particular ability.
Difficult work taking great skill.
talentA former weight and unit of currency, used especially by the ancient Romans and Greeks.
She displayed a talent for garden design.
urgeAn instinctive motive.
He felt the urge to giggle.

Usage Examples of "Instinct" as a noun

  • His instinct for making the most of his chances.
  • The homing instinct.
  • Altruistic instincts in social animals.
  • Instinct told her not to ask the question.
  • The spawning instinct in salmon.
  • They retain their old authoritarian instincts.

Instinct as an Adjective

Definitions of "Instinct" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “instinct” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

  • Deeply filled or permeated.
  • (followed by `with') deeply filled or permeated.
  • Imbued or filled with (a quality, especially a desirable one.

Synonyms of "Instinct" as an adjective (1 Word)

repleteFilled to satisfaction with food or drink.
I went out into the sun drenched streets again replete and relaxed.

Usage Examples of "Instinct" as an adjective

  • Words instinct with love.
  • These canvases are instinct with passion.

Associations of "Instinct" (30 Words)

adopteeSomeone (such as a child) who has been adopted.
antenatalOccurring or existing before birth.
Antenatal care.
bornBritish nuclear physicist born in Germany honored for his contributions to quantum mechanics 1882 1970.
A born musician.
congenital(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth.
A congenital liar.
distaffA stick or spindle on to which wool or flax is wound for spinning.
Marriage is still the passport to distaff power.
feminineA feminine word or form.
The snowdrops gave a feminine touch to the table.
geneticallyIn a way that relates to origin or development.
Language varieties that are genetically related.
hereditaryRelating to inheritance.
Either hereditary or environmental factors.
inbornPresent at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development.
An inborn defect in the formation of collagen.
inherenceThe state of inhering; the state of being a fixed characteristic.
The inherence of polysemy in human language.
inherentVested in someone as a right or privilege.
Shortcomings inherent in our approach.
innateBeing talented through inherited qualities.
An innate talent.
intrinsicBelonging to a thing by its very nature.
Intrinsic muscles.
intuitionAn impression that something might be the case.
He had an intuition that something had gone wrong.
maternalRelating to a mother, especially during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.
Warm maternal affection for her guest.
matriarchA feisty older woman with a big bosom (as drawn in cartoons.
A domineering matriarch.
motherCare for like a mother.
She didn t know how to mother my brother and he was very sensitive.
mutualA mutual building society or insurance company.
Scottish Amicable may switch from mutual to plc status.
nascent(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
The nascent chicks.
natalA port city in northeastern Brazil.
He was living in the south many miles from his natal city.
nativeUsed in names of animals or plants resembling others familiar elsewhere e g native bee.
The marigold is a native of southern Europe.
parentBe or act as a parent to a child.
Stems will root down creating a new crown near the parent.
parentalDenoting an organization or company which owns or controls a number of subsidiaries.
Parental guidance.
paternalBelonging to or inherited from one’s father.
His father and paternal grandfather were porcelain painters.
paternityPaternal origin.
Tests were conducted to determine paternity.
pregnancyThe condition or period of being pregnant.
A straightforward pregnancy.
prenatalBefore birth; during or relating to pregnancy.
The prenatal period.
uncleA source of help and advice and encouragement.
He visited his uncle.
visceralRelating to or affecting the viscera.
The visceral nervous system.
Alexei

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