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
The response from the F1 organization and motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, has been to wait patiently for a chance to review the rules, rather than making instant knee-jerk changes.
—
Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Guard against knee-jerk reactions today.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The commitment angst plaguing Charlie and Emma over Emma’s secret seems to have a lot to do with several contemporary concerns—mixed messaging about gender roles, confusion over what constitutes a moral failing—that yield knee-jerk responses.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Admittedly, my own knee-jerk reaction landed in this category.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Guard against knee-jerk reactions today.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The commitment angst plaguing Charlie and Emma over Emma’s secret seems to have a lot to do with several contemporary concerns—mixed messaging about gender roles, confusion over what constitutes a moral failing—that yield knee-jerk responses.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Admittedly, my own knee-jerk reaction landed in this category.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-jerk
Adjective
-
Frankly, both had done enough to merit promotion — but EFL begrudgingly grants just one automatic place to the National League, and another via a round of play-offs.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, bought a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun from Turner’s Outdoorsman in Torrance in August 2025 and an Armscor semi-automatic pistol from CAP Tactical Firearms in Lawndale in October 2023, the profile shows.—
Myles Miller,
Bloomberg,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The ten seconds that led to the Braylon Mullins’ miracle shot were a series of reflex plays, reactions, the ultimate in instincts taking over, living in the split second, rather than in the moment.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Scaling nanotechnology through biological principles The basic premise of this research is in molecular machines, which are mechanical components consisting of only a few dozen atoms.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This would be achieved by making the flying experience less like an airplane and more like an automobile, including replacing mechanical control linkages with fly-by-wire systems, even removing the traditional rudder pedals.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Briery said spontaneous identical triplets are worth marking, no matter how rare.—
Ryan Brennan
April 29,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Before then, Venus and Uranus are lighting up your local world and social life, making the first two weeks ripe for spontaneous adventure closer to home.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As a downhill run defender, Winters is instinctive and decisive.—
Nick Harris
April 25,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That means today’s managers and Gen Z workers are, in many cases, operating from entirely different instinctive playbooks.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In addition, engineers at the China Academy of Space Technology are enhancing the station’s robotic arms, giving them the precision and strength required for the increasingly complex assembly and maintenance tasks ahead.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
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That olive-drab robotic dog was the second canine at AT&T’s exhibit, and by far the less furry of the two.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Early in his baseball career, Kaneland pitcher Jack Frey came to a sudden realization.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The turmoil has included the sudden resignation of then-Supt.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Potholes may go unfilled, Davis said, and drivers may have to make unplanned trips to the mechanic shop to fix their tires as a result.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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And soon after another brother and mechanic William Davidson joined the team.—
Ricardo Torres,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-jerk. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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