General Synonyms:
* Intuition: This emphasizes the feeling or sense of knowing something without conscious reasoning.
* Natural inclination: This emphasizes the inherent tendency to behave in a certain way.
* Impulse: This focuses on the sudden urge to act without conscious thought.
* Predilection: This emphasizes a natural liking or preference for something.
* Gut feeling: This is an informal synonym that emphasizes the feeling of knowing something without rational explanation.
More Specific Synonyms:
* Innate: Emphasizes that the instinct is present from birth.
* Unlearned: Emphasizes that the instinct is not acquired through experience.
* Hereditary: Emphasizes that the instinct is passed down genetically.
* Drive: Emphasizes the motivating force behind the instinct.
* Survival mechanism: Emphasizes the adaptive function of the instinct.
The best synonym will depend on the specific context in which you are using the word. Consider what you are trying to communicate and choose the word that best captures that meaning.