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 who often regrets his actions later

2

: acting momentarily

3

: having the power of or actually driving or impelling

an impulsive force

impulsively adverb

impulsiveness noun

impulsivity

im-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē 

noun

Synonyms of impulsive

• obsessive
• compulsive
• spontaneous

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

At the end of the first episode, Nicky — a gay pastor — and Morgan — impulsive and stuck in a seemingly dead-end relationship — land in the pocket of organized criminals, being forced at gunpoint into the back of a delivery truck. —Dave Itzkoff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

The pushback is largely coming from Democrats and illustrates the challenges Musk’s collection of companies are receiving as the famously impulsive and truculent multi-billionaire has turned himself into a political lightning rod. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026

Communication becomes bold, fast and perhaps even impulsive at this time. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026

The lack of any such connection will literally change the architecture of a developing young brain for the worse, leaving one impulsive and susceptible to all kinds of pressures as an adult. —Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see impulse entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for impulsive

• compulsive
• convulsive
• expulsive
• propulsive
• repulsive
• electroconvulsive

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