What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tendency vs Instinct - What's the difference?

tendency | instinct |

As nouns the difference between tendency and instinct

is that tendency is a likelihood of behaving in a particular way or going in a particular direction; a tending toward while instinct is a natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.

As an adjective instinct is

(archaic) imbued, charged ((with) something).

tendency

English

Noun

(tendencies)
  • A likelihood of behaving in a particular way or going in a particular direction; a tending toward.
  • Denim has a tendency to fade.
  • An organised unit or faction within a larger political organisation.
  • a militant tendency

    Derived terms

    * multitendency

    Synonyms

    * inclination * disposition * propensity * penchant * trend

    instinct

    Noun

  • A natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.
  • Many animals fear fire by instinct .
  • * Shakespeare
  • By a divine instinct , men's minds mistrust / Ensuing dangers.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1921 , title= , author=Bertrand Russell , passage=In spite of these qualifications, the broad distinction between instinct and habit is undeniable. To take extreme cases, every animal at birth can take food by instinct, before it has had opportunity to learn; on the other hand, no one can ride a bicycle by instinct, though, after learning, the necessary movements become just as automatic as if they were instinctive.}}
  • An intuitive reaction not based on rational conscious thought.
  • an instinct''' for order; to be modest by '''instinct
    Debbie's instinct was to distrust John.

    Derived terms

    * instinctively * instinctive

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Imbued, charged ((with) something).
  • * Milton
  • The chariot of paternal deity / Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed / By four cherubic shapes.
  • * Brougham
  • a noble performance, instinct with sound principle
  • * 1928 , (HP Lovecraft), ‘The Call of Cthulhu’:
  • This thing, which seemed instinct with a fearsome and unnatural malignancy, was of a somewhat bloated corpulence, and squatted evilly on a rectangular block or pedestal covered with undecipherable characters.