impulsive
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im·pul·sive

adjective \im-ˈpəl-siv\

Definition of IMPULSIVE

1
: having the power of or actually driving or impelling
2
a : arising from an impulse <an impulsive decision>
b : prone to act on impulse <an impulsive young man>
3
: acting momentarily
im·pul·sive·ly adverb
im·pul·sive·ness noun
im·pul·siv·i·ty \-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē\ noun

Examples of IMPULSIVE

  1. She's impulsive and often does things that she later regrets.
  2. He needs to learn to control his impulsive behavior.
  3. She made an impulsive decision to quit her job.
  4. 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

Origin of IMPULSIVE

(see 2impulse)
First Known Use: 15th century

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

im·pul·sive

adjective \im-ˈpəl-siv\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of IMPULSIVE

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>
im·pul·sive·ly adverb
im·pul·sive·ness noun
im·pul·siv·i·ty \-ˌpəl-ˈsiv-ət-ē\ (audio pronunciation) noun, plural ; im·pul·siv·i·ties

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