Instinctive and Strained
Opposite meaning words
Instinctive
Instinctive adjective - Done instantly and without conscious thought or decision.
Strained is an antonym for instinctive.
Strained
Strained adjective - Lacking in natural or spontaneous quality.
Usage example: I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight
Instinctive is an antonym for strained.
Cite this Source
Strained and Instinctive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctive/strained
Instinctive & Strained. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctive/strained>.
Strained or Instinctive. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctive/strained.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "instinctive" and "strained" have occurred on timeline