impulsive

adjective

im·pul·sive | \ im-ˈpəl-siv

Definition of impulsive

1 : having the power of or actually driving or impelling

2a : arising from an impulse an impulsive decision

b : prone to act on impulse an impulsive young man

3 : acting momentarily

Other Words from impulsive Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about impulsive

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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

The following day Mercury enters bold, impulsive Aries on Wednesday, April 17, following the sun into your house of career. — Randon Rosenbohm, Allure, "What April’s Cancer Horoscope Means for You," 31 Mar. 2019 The system will use the loud, impulsive sounds produced by snapping shrimp as sources of opportunity in a multi static sonar system - detecting reflections of those sounds off of the underwater vehicle. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "DARPA Wants to Turn Sealife Into a Giant Submarine Detection Network," 5 Mar. 2019 But there were plenty who saw in Trump’s latest impulsive moves a dangerous trend. — Brian Bennett, Time, "This Is What Trump’s Impulsive Diplomacy Looks Like," 14 June 2018 The eldest of Victoria, Princess Royal's children, Wilhelm was considered brash and impulsive, traits that alienated many and played a significant role in the start of the war. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Queen Victoria's Descendants Still Reign Over Europe," 17 Feb. 2019 Here, two college roommates—assured, resourceful, generous Otilia (an astonishing Anamaria Marinca) and sweet, impulsive, selfish Găbita (Laura Vasiliu)—share an experience that will forever change them, in ways expected and otherwise. — David Mermelstein, WSJ, "Cinematic Treasures From an Unexpected Place," 22 Jan. 2019 The key to understanding this: Suicides are often very impulsive, frequently planned within minutes or hours. — German Lopez, Vox, "Guns killed more people than car crashes in 2017," 11 Dec. 2018 And over the years, there’s been a growing awareness that there is a neurological basis for the attention issues and hyperactive, impulsive behaviors associated with the disorder. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Kids who start kindergarten young are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD," 17 Dec. 2018 Adults with the disorder may feel impulsive or have a hard time sitting still and completing tasks. — Andrea K. Mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Children aren't the only ones with ADHD; adults get it as well," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impulsive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.