What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
visceral
Example
The news of her friend's death had a visceral impact on her. [visceral: adjective]
Example
He had a visceral reaction to the smell of smoke, immediately feeling the need to flee. [visceral: adjective]
instinctive
Example
The baby's instinctive reflex was to grasp onto the finger placed in its palm. [instinctive: adjective]
Example
She had an instinctive feeling that something was wrong, even though she couldn't explain why. [instinctive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Instinctive is more commonly used than visceral in everyday language. Instinctive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while visceral is less common and often used in more specific or artistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between visceral and instinctive?
Both visceral and instinctive are relatively informal words, but visceral may have a more poetic or literary connotation, making it slightly more formal in certain contexts.
