knee jerk

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.

"Everyone recognizes there is a growing antibiotic resistance crisis, and the knee jerk reaction is to develop new antibiotics," You added.

From Science Daily • Feb. 22, 2024

Unite's deputy regional secretary, Davy Thompson, said minimum service levels are "the most invidious example of knee jerk legislating this country has seen in a long time".

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024

“A sensible conversation is needed when balancing community safety with personal liberty. This is not a time for knee jerk responses,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2023

“The knee jerk pullback in the euro/dollar suggests some were positioned for something more hawkish from the ECB,” Societe Generale currency strategist Kenneth Broux, said.

From Reuters • Apr. 14, 2022

Facilitation of the patellar reflex or "knee jerk".

From Psychology A Study Of Mental Life by Woodworth, Robert S.