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

But a former cabinet minister - strongly opposed to withdrawal - described the idea as "knee jerk nonsense".

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2023

“This is a perfect example of a knee jerk ‘just do something’ mentality,” said Chris McNutt, president of Texas Gun Rights.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 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

His knee jerk was slighter than on the other side, but it was present and the weakness was due to the loss of power in the muscles.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)