impulsive

adjective

im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv 

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 

noun

Synonyms

• besetting
• compulsive
• driven
• obsessional
• obsessive

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

None of these developments are merely the result of Iran’s glimpsing new openings in turmoil and making opportunistic, impulsive moves. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

Scott is at his most captivating in long, solo scenes of Tom grimacing with the effort of dragging suitcases around unfamiliar cities or cleaning up after his impulsive murders. —Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024

Psychopathy: Key traits include lacking empathy and being emotionally cold while also being impulsive and prone to taking big risks. —Stephanie Booth, Health, 30 Mar. 2024

Bell points out that Aries may be too impulsive and chaotic for the strategic and plan-loving Virgo, and too blunt for emotionally-sensitive Pisces. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024

Research shows that a kleptomaniac’s impulsive decision-making may be tied to the need to seek new experiences and sensations, feeling excited by stealing or possibly a susceptibility to boredom. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

Disorganized offenders are prone to committing crimes that are impulsive, often driven by emotions rather than premeditation. —Callie Cassick, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024

When the Moon then shifts into aggressive Aries at 8:26 am EST, our grievances could spur us toward impulsive action. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024

Many are short loops and connectors, so there’s a natural magnetism for impulsive side trips. —Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see impulse entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

impulsive

adjective

im·​pul·​sive im-ˈpəl-siv 

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 

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 

noun

plural impulsivities