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in·stinc·tive (ĭn-stĭngktĭv)
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adj.
1. Of, relating to, or prompted by instinct: an instinctive ability to build a nest.
2.
a. Arising from impulse or natural inclination; done without thought or conscious effort; spontaneous: an instinctive sympathy for the downtrodden.
b. Being such by natural inclination rather than conscious effort or study: "Both men were instinctive masters at seizing unexpected openings and turning them into victories" (Nick Kotz).
in·stinctive·ly adv.
Synonyms: instinctive, instinctual, intuitive, visceral
These adjectives refer to things that arise from a natural tendency or impulse: an instinctive desire to help others; an instinctual respect for authority; an intuitive feeling that something is wrong; a visceral reaction to the scandalous news.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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