English Reference
Idiom idiom

killer instinct


The natural inclination to aggressively achieve dominance or success in a particular endeavor.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

She has the killer instinct needed to win every game.

CONTEXTUAL

To succeed in such a competitive industry, you need a certain killer instinct to outperform your rivals.

COMPLEX

The young entrepreneur possessed a sharp killer instinct, allowing her to identify market weaknesses and dominate the sector before her competitors could react.


Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    cowboy killer

    A cigarette.

  2. 02

    silent killer

    A disease experienced by someone who is not symptomatic.

  3. 03

    thrill killer

    A murderer who is motivated by a strong personal desire to have a very exciting experience.

Last updated August 10, 2026