# killer instinct

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/killer-instinct
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- She has the killer instinct needed to win every game.
- To succeed in such a competitive industry, you need a certain killer instinct to outperform your rivals.
- The young entrepreneur possessed a sharp killer instinct, allowing her to identify market weaknesses and dominate the sector before her competitors could react.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.