survival instinct

noun

: ability to know what to do to stay alive

an animal's survival instinct

Examples of survival instinct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

After a while, a sort of austere survival instinct kicked in for me. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 A little bit of fear, a little bit of urgency, that survival instinct. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025 This is antithetical to every survival instinct in your body. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 With Khamenei’s regime, and his life, on the line, the resistance instinct must be warring with the survival instinct beneath that black turban. — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for survival instinct

Browse Nearby Words

survival

survival instinct

survivalism

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Survival instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival%20instinct. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation