as in reflex
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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
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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
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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
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Then there are issues of bias—subconscious or overt—in the workplace.—
Christopher M. Worsham,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
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Your subconscious mind processes thousands of data points your conscious mind doesn't register.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Soldiers have reported a visceral fear of drones and both sides have used macabre footage of fatal strikes in their propaganda, with soldiers shown being blown apart in toilets or running from burning vehicles.—
Guy Faulconbridge and Anton Kolodyazhnyy,
USA TODAY,
11 Mar. 2025
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The videos offer a rare and visceral look at how a blind person travels independently.—
Andrew Leland,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?—
Charlotte Hu,
Discover Magazine,
31 July 2011
Adjective
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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
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As in equine therapy, the connection between human and horse becomes more subliminal—not as a relationship based on domination, but one of mutual care and attunement.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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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
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The victim was unconscious and had bruises on his face and body when the couple dropped him at Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush Saturday.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2025
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According to local newspaper The Korea Times, Wheesung was discovered unconscious in his apartment in Seoul’s northern Gwangjin-gu district at 6:29 p.m.—
Patrick Brzeski,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The chance to move into the automatic promotion places has slipped away.—
Matt Woosnam,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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The North Korean crew had reportedly switched off the ship's automatic identification system (AIS), a common practice when seeking to avoid detection.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Pavlovian. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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