hardwired
adjective
hard·wired
ˈhärd-ˌwī(-ə)rd 
1
: implemented in the form of permanent electronic circuits
also
: connected or incorporated by or as if by permanent electrical connections
a hardwired phone
concepts of attractiveness may be universal and hardwired into the human brain —
Jane E. Brody
Jane E. Brody 2
: genetically or innately determined : inborn
creature whose every action is a reflexive, hardwired response—Natalie Angier
Natalie Angier
also
: genetically or innately predisposed
a human being who is hardwired to be sociable —Forbes
Forbes Examples of hardwired in a Sentence
a cat with a hardwired compulsion to knock expensive knickknacks off of shelves
Recent Examples on the Web
Since disgust evolved as a protective mechanism, this suggests that some people’s rejection thresholds are hardwired to be especially high—which, naturally, can make dating a lot more difficult.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
How much of who survives is luck, or are there people who are just hardwired like yourself to adjust at the right moments?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
Being vulnerable and asking for help can be difficult: Humans are hardwired to be independent-minded and want to figure situations out on their own, leadership coach M. Nora Bouchard told Make It in 2020.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2024
The level of jamming is so intense both Russian and Ukrainian forces are now fielding drones tethered with fiber optic cables so pilots have hardwired controls.
—Iain Martin, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardwired
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
How much of who survives is luck, or are there people who are just hardwired like yourself to adjust at the right moments?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
Being vulnerable and asking for help can be difficult: Humans are hardwired to be independent-minded and want to figure situations out on their own, leadership coach M. Nora Bouchard told Make It in 2020.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2024
The level of jamming is so intense both Russian and Ukrainian forces are now fielding drones tethered with fiber optic cables so pilots have hardwired controls.
—Iain Martin, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardwired
Cite this Entry
“Hardwired.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardwired. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hardwired
adjective
hard·wired
-ˌwī(ə)rd
: having or done using or as if using permanent electronic circuits or connections
a hardwired phone
a parent hardwired to defend their child
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