: readily predictable : automatic
knee-jerk reactions
also, disapproving
: reacting in a readily predictable way
The man was such a bleeding-heart knee-jerk liberal that you could predict the rest of the column after reading the first sentence. —
Andrew M. Greeley
Andrew M. Greeley
: an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the patella
Synonyms
Examples of knee-jerk in a Sentence
Adjective
a colleague known for her knee-jerk rejection of any proposal that she didn't originate
Recent Examples on the Web
Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
A lot of this is knee-jerk excuse-making, and the pendulum will swing back somewhat over the course of Trump’s second term.
—Bill Goodykoontz, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
Alaa Elassar, CNN, 24 July 2023
One of the most common knee jerk reactions is to move assets to cash.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 5 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for knee-jerk 
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Adjective
Listen to signals, but don't succumb to knee-jerk reactions.
—Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
A lot of this is knee-jerk excuse-making, and the pendulum will swing back somewhat over the course of Trump’s second term.
—Bill Goodykoontz, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
The thing that keeps you from just acting out on your initial knee jerk reaction and from just acting impulsively.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 24 July 2023
One of the most common knee jerk reactions is to move assets to cash.
—Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 5 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for knee-jerk
Dictionary Entries Near knee-jerk
Cite this Entry
“Knee-jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knee-jerk. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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