impulsive

adjective

im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
Synonyms of impulsivenext
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
im-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The proliferation of financial news, sensationalist headlines, and social media can amplify anxiety, leading to impulsive decisions that deviate from long-term plans. — True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Even during a recession, advisors should encourage clients to avoid impulsive moves like selling assets at depressed prices. — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025 Policies such as Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen, its blockade of Qatar, the detention of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the conversion of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh into a makeshift prison all fed an image of the young prince as an impulsive decision-maker. — Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025 What to avoid around this full moon Making impulsive decisions. — Danijela Pilic, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impulsive

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

Rhymes for impulsive

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Browse Nearby Words

impulsion
impulsive
impulsor
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Cite this Entry

“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impulsive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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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
-ˌpəl-ˈsiv-ət-ē How to pronounce impulsive (audio)
noun
plural impulsivities

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