nonthinking
Acting on autopilot
Nonthinking describes action or behavior that bypasses conscious deliberation—automatic, reflexive, or unexamined.
It can be neutral, as in practiced skills that become second nature: After years of driving, shifting gears becomes nonthinking.
Or it can be critical, suggesting someone who acts without reflection: nonthinking obedience to authority.
Involuntary stimulus response
- innateExisting since birth
- primalFirst in origin
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- visceralArising from deep instinct
animalistic · unlearned · hardwired · biological · inborn · instinctive · natural · unreasoning
Stiff and unemotional
- mechanicalOperated by machinery
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
- habitualDone by routine
- programmedSet with instructions
rote · autopilot · preprogrammed · mindless · perfunctory · procedural · effortless · routine
Inattentive to immediate surroundings
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- inattentiveNot paying attention
- neglectfulFailing to care properly
unmindful · unobservant · unperceptive · disregardful · forgetful · distracted · unseeing · unnoticing
Arising without external cause
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- impetuousActing on sudden urge
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
heedless · incautious · unplanned · abrupt · hasty · snap · spur-of-the-moment · knee-jerk
Recurring unconscious repose
- dreamingMental imagery during slumber
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- subconsciousBelow conscious awareness
insensible · vegetative · stupor · torpor · hypnosis · sedation · blackout · faint
Not currently functioning
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- uninvolvedNot taking part
idle · disengaged · unquestioning · acquiescent · compliant · accepting · docile · submissive
reflex
Involuntary stimulus response
visceral · animalistic · unlearned · hardwired · biological · inborn · instinctive · natural · unreasoning · elemental
robotic
Stiff and unemotional
- mechanicalOperated by machinery
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
- habitualDone by routine
programmed · rote · autopilot · preprogrammed · mindless · perfunctory · procedural · effortless · routine · conditioned
absentminded
Inattentive to immediate surroundings
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- inattentiveNot paying attention
neglectful · unmindful · unobservant · unperceptive · disregardful · forgetful · distracted · unseeing · unnoticing · unheeding
spontaneous
Arising without external cause
unpremeditated · heedless · incautious · unplanned · abrupt · hasty · snap · spur-of-the-moment · knee-jerk · unreflective
sleep
Recurring unconscious repose
- dreamingMental imagery during slumber
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
subconscious · insensible · vegetative · stupor · torpor · hypnosis · sedation · blackout · faint · syncope
inactive
Not currently functioning
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
uninvolved · idle · disengaged · unquestioning · acquiescent · compliant · accepting · docile · submissive · uncritical
nonthinkingthinking
Mental reasoning process
thoughtful · deliberate · reflective · contemplative · meditative
nonthinkingrational
Governed by logic
reasonable · logical · intelligent · reasoned · practical
think, thought, thinking, thinker, unthinking, rethink, unthinkable, rethinking, unthinkingly