impulsive

adjective

im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
1
a
: arising from an impulse
an impulsive decision
b
: prone to act on impulse
an impulsive young man
2
: acting momentarily
3
: having the power of or actually driving or impelling
impulsively adverb
impulsiveness noun
impulsivity noun
Choose the Right Synonym for impulsive

spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation.

spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

Examples of impulsive in a Sentence

I couldn't make out exactly what had happened, though I could guess how it started—the two of them talking, kidding around when Mrs. Ramsey came down to the library basement to file some periodicals, an impulsive kiss in the stacks … Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
There was an odd nobility, a knight-errant quality, about Alan—in his willingness to suffer for the sake of life itself, in his tendency to view himself under harsher light than he would turn on others, in his impulsive generosity. Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999
So speaks Maude Bailey, the celibate feminist scholar heroine of A. S. Byatt's fifth novel, as, in an impulsive collusion with a male scholar she scarcely knows, she runs off to Brittany. Joyce Carol Oates, Vogue, November 1990
She's impulsive and often does things that she later regrets. He needs to learn to control his impulsive behavior. She made an impulsive decision to quit her job.
Recent Examples on the Web Being mindful of your impulsive tendencies and reminding yourself of the benefits of a more intentional approach to shopping can limit unplanned and unsatisfying purchases. 2. Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Like, ‘My sporadic, spastic, impulsive, potentially treacherous ideas? Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024 In the summer of 2021, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told one of her allies that her biggest concern was that Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping may do something impulsive, because during Covid there hadn’t been personal bilateral exchanges among leaders. Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 The cinematography, by Silver’s frequent collaborator Sean Price Williams, with extreme closeups and impulsive agitation, captures a constant sense of volcanic tension just waiting to blow, an effect augmented by John Magary’s exuberantly pugnacious editing. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024 Symptoms can include trouble paying attention, impulsive behaviors, fidgeting a lot and taking unnecessary risks. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Which signs are Pisceans least compatible with? Bold, energetic and impulsive fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) aren’t the best match for Pisces. Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024 This can impair your ability to think and process emotions, disrupt sleep patterns, prompt impulsive behaviors, intensify stress and lead to health problems. Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 While the impulsive Moon in your 6th House of Responsibilities aggravates domineering Pluto in your communication sector, even trying to talk about routine tasks could easily escalate into a dramatic argument! Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see impulse entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of impulsive was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near impulsive

Cite this Entry

“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impulsive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impulsive

adjective
im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
1
: acting or tending to act on impulse
2
: resulting from a sudden impulse
impulsively adverb
impulsiveness noun

Medical Definition

impulsive

adjective
im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
1
: having the power of or actually driving or impelling
2
: actuated by or prone to act on impulse
impulsive behavior
3
: acting momentarily
brief impulsive auditory stimuli
impulsively adverb
impulsiveness noun
impulsivity noun
plural impulsivities

More from Merriam-Webster on impulsive

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