as in reflex
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of Pavlovian
The clack-clack-clack of the spinning wheel and the announcing of the winning number tends to elicit a Pavlovian response from the audience.
—
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
David Andreatta, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
After a decade, my body reacts in a Pavlovian way to its stimuli, the scroll of torsos, the dopamine of a red dot notification, a three-toned beep that perks you up in your chair.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
Nostalgia plays a part too, of course, as those of us who came of age in the VHS era have an almost Pavlovian response to the look and feel of those chunky black tapes.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024
Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
-
Engineered to deliver booming bass at all volume levels, the speaker sports dual 58mm tweeters, a 165mm bass driver, a bass reflex tube and BlueAnt’s signature psycho-acoustic bass.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Common triggers include dehydration from illness, vasovagal syncope—a reflex response to nausea or pain—abnormal heart rhythms, and heart valve conditions such as aortic stenosis.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And there are many experts trained in various therapeutic modalities who can guide us through a systematic approach to resolving anything subconscious that is limiting our ability to do so.—
Ross Overline,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The sun conjunct Neptune in Pisces will ignite your 12th house of secrets, privacy and spirituality, stirring up subconscious thoughts and dreams.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The issue of possible unmarked graves on the site has given the dispute its most visceral edge.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Still others have a visceral reaction to giving a big company any kind of biometric info, regardless of security assurances.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As the protagonist Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1968), Duane Jones unveiled a distinct facet of pre-conditioned Black martyrdom.—
Malik Peay,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
-
Both these men think of interiors as subliminal ways to read someone’s psyche.—
Maya Ibbitson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Sep. 2024
-
The two musicians recently traded subliminal messages across social media indicating that cheating may be an issue for one party.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Behavioral research shows that people alarmed by sensational news tend to make reactive choices against their long-term interests.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Shifting the emphasis from basic budgeting to applied financial thought should assist people of all ages in making deliberate rather than reactive decisions.—
Martin Mulyadi,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The alleged victim was reportedly knocked unconscious from the blow and hospitalized with a skull fracture and brain bleeding.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Stress, previous surgeries, traumatic experiences or even unconscious muscle tensing can also contribute to this pain.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The chance to move into the automatic promotion places has slipped away.—
Matt Woosnam,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The women lost out on an automatic bid after dropping the A-10 title game to George Mason.—
Isaac Avilucea,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share