lizard brained
Acting on impulse
Lizard brained describes thinking or behavior driven by primitive instincts rather than rational thought—fear, aggression, territoriality, immediate gratification.
The term references the "lizard brain," pop-science shorthand for the brain stem and limbic system, supposedly our evolutionary inheritance from reptilian ancestors.
His lizard-brained response was to lash out rather than listen.
First in origin
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
- automaticOperating without intervention
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
subconscious · innate · ancient · biological · preprogrammed · intuitive · animalistic · deep-seated
Of snakes and lizards
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- atavisticReverting to ancestral type
- unevolvedNot having changed form
- cavemanPrehistoric cave-dwelling human
crude · unrefined · brutish · unsophisticated · regressive · elemental · raw · uncivilized
Tending to respond
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
snap · unthinking · fight-or-flight · triggered · hair-trigger · volatile · hot-headed · unfiltered
primal
First in origin
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
- automaticOperating without intervention
reflexive · subconscious · innate · ancient · biological · preprogrammed · intuitive · animalistic · deep-seated · unlearned
reptilian
Of snakes and lizards
caveman · crude · unrefined · brutish · unsophisticated · regressive · elemental · raw · uncivilized · hindbrain
reactive
Tending to respond
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
rash · snap · unthinking · fight-or-flight · triggered · hair-trigger · volatile · hot-headed · unfiltered
lizard brainedcerebral
Relating to intellect
rational · reasoned · thoughtful · analytical · intellectual
lizard brainedcomposed
Calm and self-possessed
measured · level-headed · cool-headed · even-tempered · self-controlled
lizard, brain, brained, lizards, brains, brainy, brainier, brainiest, brainless