instinctive

Definitions

Done automatically without conscious thought or prior training.

Based on or prompted by a natural, innate impulse rather than learned behavior.

Examples

Her instinctive reaction was to pull her hand away from the hot stove.

He had an instinctive understanding of how the complex machine worked.

The mother's instinctive need to protect her child was overwhelming.

Synonyms

intuitive automatic spontaneous innate natural impulsive unconscious

Antonyms

calculated deliberate learned acquired conscious reasoned intentional