Collocation Dictionary

Try "happy" or "love"

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Common collocations with instinct in American Collocation

instinct noun countable/uncountable

US /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/

basic

base
basic
primal
primeval
primitive

The primal instinct of self-preservation takes over.

natural

human
innate
natural

It’s human instinct to be suspicious.

for protecting or fighting

aggressive
predatory
protective

He’s going to have to curb his aggressive instincts.

like a mother or father

maternal
motherly
paternal

She has strong maternal instincts.

types of instinct

herd
homing
hunting
killer
survival

This dog still has a very strong hunting instinct.

basic

animal
gut

Follow your gut instincts.

follow instincts

follow
obey
trust

You’ve always told me to trust my instincts.

not follow instincts

curb
fight
ignore
overcome
suppress

We should make the effort to overcome our basic animal instincts.

produce or develop an instinct

arouse
develop
hone

Her motherly instincts were instantly aroused.

I had already developed a finely honed instinct for survival.