: 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 WebAndrew Stein, New York Daily News, 19 May 2024
Hayama’s knee-jerk reaction to Tozawa’s thinly veneered, cool-as-ice threat clearly demonstrates to everyone in attendance that Hayama is an angry little boy in a serious man’s strategic brawl.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 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 
Adjective
None of its leaders have been willing to condemn the Squad and its bigoted allies who are knee-jerk anti-Israel zealots.
—Andrew Stein, New York Daily News, 19 May 2024
Hayama’s knee-jerk reaction to Tozawa’s thinly veneered, cool-as-ice threat clearly demonstrates to everyone in attendance that Hayama is an angry little boy in a serious man’s strategic brawl.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knee-jerk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 4 Jul. 2024.
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