Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

impulse

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of impulse

1 something that arouses action or activity
  • The new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed.
Synonyms of impulse

boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast
Words Related to impulse

inducement, invitation

antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason

catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark
Phrases Synonymous with impulse

shot in the arm
Antonyms of impulse

counterincentive, disincentive
2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
  • the universal, fundamental impulse of self-preservation
Synonyms of impulse

affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, bone, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn
Words Related to impulse

favor, one-sidedness, partisanship, prejudice

endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent

addiction, appetite, fancy, fondness, like, liking, preference, taste

forte, speciality, specialty

convention, custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), routine, trick, way, wont

eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity
Near Antonyms of impulse

allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, distaste

detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity

apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Synonym Discussion of impulse

motive, impulse, incentive, inducement, spur, goad mean a stimulus to action. motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.
    • a motive for the crime
impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.
    • buying on impulse
incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.
    • a bonus was offered as an incentive
inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.
    • offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe
spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.
    • fear was a spur to action
goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.
    • thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

Learn More about impulse

  1. See words that rhyme with impulse Dictionary: Definition of impulse Medical Dictionary: Definition of impulse Spanish Central: Translation of impulse Nglish: Translation of impulse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impulse for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up impulse? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games