as in reflex
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Recent Examples of Pavlovian
The result is a political Pavlovian response where even modest tax reforms come with a side of millionaire exodus think-pieces.
—
Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The theme is the same Pavlovian ring tone as its dating show predecessor, but off-kilter — the Wario to Love Island’s Mario.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 July 2025
The response was Pavlovian, the practice ingrained in her by her own mother, who spent much of her time pacifying her insecure and whiny husband.
—Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
George Lucas’ 1977 space saga is pure Pavlovian pop rush and knows how to modernize creaky B-movie genre elements for maximum audience reaction.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
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
Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The theme is the same Pavlovian ring tone as its dating show predecessor, but off-kilter — the Wario to Love Island’s Mario.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 July 2025
The response was Pavlovian, the practice ingrained in her by her own mother, who spent much of her time pacifying her insecure and whiny husband.
—Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
George Lucas’ 1977 space saga is pure Pavlovian pop rush and knows how to modernize creaky B-movie genre elements for maximum audience reaction.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Pavlovian
Adjective
-
That leads to the second category: a simple reflex agent with state.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Some bass-heavy speakers can create an annoying booming sound from the reflex port at the rear of the speaker.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
So that really is the appearance of AI Natalie [which is] her subconscious not having any other way to put out this grief or to confront these emotions despite Riri [trying] to shut that part of her brain off and focus on other [things].—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
-
This term refers to the often subconscious attempt at cultivating an online (and offline) persona that reflects a particular type of cool.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
In a financial world increasingly dominated by intangibles, Burgundy remains visceral, finite and timeless.—
Anthony Zhang,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Victor talks about film in a very visceral, physical way.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
25 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
-
On or off the runway, fashion can conjure up psychoanalytical questions that are spoken or subliminal.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
24 June 2025
-
Michelle accused Braxton of continuing to take subliminal jabs at her since their Love & Hip Hop days — even as recently as after Beyoncé sent her flowers.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Fractional works best when priorities are clear, communication is streamlined and the leader prioritizes strategic over reactive work.—
Kenzie Biggins,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Known for their bold, occasionally reactive behavior—especially when confronted by unfamiliar, larger breeds—this group appeared to stand their ground.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
One of the individuals rescued was a 10-year-old boy, who was unconscious and admitted to a nearby hospital with several injuries, per VNExpress.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
19 July 2025
-
The child, who was unconscious, received life-saving measures at the scene and was taken to Griffin Hospital before being transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital, according to DEEP.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Nathan Kaufman, a health care consultant and long-time Palomar observer who has been critical of recent leadership decisions, said that the pact between Palomar and UCSD is not an automatic win given the current state of health care margins.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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The service, launched in 2021, offered unlimited photo and video storage to AT&T’s Protect Advantage plan subscribers with the convenience of automatic backup at full quality and no data charges when backing up over AT&T’s network.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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