Pavlovian

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 For its viewing audience, tuning in would eventually become a kind of Pavlovian response to breaking news — and to anything major unfolding anywhere in the world. Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 Drivers build lives around parking: the work shifts altered to align with the alternate-side-rotation hours, the keys always in the pocket, the Pavlovian alertness at the chirp of an unlocking car. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
  • Apart from the reflex response to a jump scare, the purpose of almost any horror movie is to disturb you.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2025
  • The Loewe Grand inicio is a powerful two-way speaker with a bass reflex system and is available as a floor-standing speaker.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tony goes to Pussy’s house and finds a wire, confirming his subconscious dreams are telling the truth.
    Skyler Trepel, People.com, 10 June 2025
  • The beginning of June may not inspire much action, as your Cancer horoscope for June 2025 finds Gemini season still traversing your twelfth house of the subconscious, spirit realm, and dreamscape.
    Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Friday’s raid was the latest — and perhaps most brazen — attack, not only for its visceral impact on everyday San Diegans, but for its audacious disregard of our most cherished constitutional protections.
    Andrew Nietor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • The visceral energy of the anger of this guy in a clown suit is the stuff of nightmares.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 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
  • Anyhow, this subliminal message to the Bond producer didn't do the trick.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 4 June 2025
  • But at San Diego Comic-Con, Cold Slither – the villainous metal band whose music was laden with subliminal messages from terrorist organization Cobra – is coming to life for the first time.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • This reactive approach overlooks strong candidates who bring growth potential.
    Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • According to the Tylenol team, the move into supplements was strategic in order to be able to offer consumers both reactive support with medication and proactive support with this new product.
    Emily Burns, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to People, Idol collapsed in a hotel elevator as the doors opened and closed on his unconscious body.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
  • John Moncayo, a spokesperson for Olathe police, said Ferguson was found unconscious at the pool and could not be resuscitated by first responders.
    Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • Several automakers are implementing new semi-autonomous, advanced cruise control, and automatic braking features in popular vehicles.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 June 2025
  • Almost a month later, on June 1, the spacecraft was less than four minutes away from liftoff when the ground launch sequencer — the computer that launches the rocket — triggered an automatic hold.
    Jillian Frankel, People.com, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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