impulsive

adjective

im·pul·sive im-ˈpəl-siv

Synonyms of impulsive next

: arising from an impulse

an impulsive decision

: prone to act on impulse

an impulsive young man

: acting momentarily

: having the power of or actually driving or impelling

impulsively adverb

impulsiveness noun

impulsivity

im-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē

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

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Patients may become suddenly and uncharacteristically uninhibited, saying and doing things that appear inappropriate or impulsive to those around them. —

Jonah Valdezstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023 On the flip side, there is an impetuous and impulsive nature to the angel number 555. —

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2023 Common traits associated with ADHD, like being restless and impulsive, can become strengths when managed the right way as part of the right career path. —

Zachariah Booker, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2023 No one knows that better than Brianne Howey, the Southern California native who plays the feisty and impulsive Georgia. —

Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 5 Jan. 2023 More people are adding friction to curb all types of impulsive behavior. —

Imani Moise, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023 Before the pandemic shutdowns, he was shuffled from school to school when educators failed to address his impulsive behavior, according to the family. —

Howard Blumestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023 Before the pandemic shutdowns, he was shuffled from school to school when educators couldn’t address his impulsive behavior. —

Bianca Vazquez Toness And Sharon Lurye, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 Before the pandemic shutdowns, he was shuffled from school to school when educators couldn’t address his impulsive behavior. —

Sharon Lurye, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2023 See More

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.