What does knee-jerk mean?
Knee-jerk means Unthinking, not carefully considered, (nearly) automatic, spontaneous, easily predictable..
Knee-jerk
Pronunciation varies by accent · adjective
Meaning
Unthinking, not carefully considered, (nearly) automatic, spontaneous, easily predictable..
Definitions by Sense
- Unthinking, not carefully considered, (nearly) automatic, spontaneous, easily predictable.
- A sudden reflexive movement of the leg below the knee, as a reaction to a tap to the tendon just below the patella (kneecap).
Example Sentences
He gave a knee-jerk response.
There were knee-jerk demands from trade unions for immediate withdrawal of all HSTs; these were wrong-headed.
The knee-jerk reaction is further evidence of just how panicked investors are about the stability of the global financial system after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last week.
Synonyms for knee-jerk
Antonyms for knee-jerk
Related Words
Word Forms
- more knee-jerk
- most knee-jerk
- kneejerk
- knee jerk
- knee-jerks
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for knee-jerk?
Common synonyms include kneejerk reflex, patellar reflex.
What is the opposite of knee-jerk?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use knee-jerk in a sentence?
He gave a knee-jerk response.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.