- plural of instinct.
instincts
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now at a "different stage of life", he cannot even contemplate playing football with friends for fun because it would trigger his competitive instincts.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Kritenbrink, for his part, said the summit has done "nothing to curb the competitive instincts of both sides on AI."
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
He said he had reason to believe that Harris’ own instincts might have led somewhere different in that election but that she never had enough control over her own campaign to follow them.
From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2026
Bryan is dealing with relationship problems that add to the urgency of his desire to survive, but he’s also just a dude with questionable self-preservation instincts, which makes for a good adventure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Annabeth didn’t feel particularly witty or courageous, but her instincts told her to take the initiative, or this would be a very short conversation.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
