1
as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
the new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tendencies
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
the universal, fundamental impulse of self-preservation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impulses
The issue is that if the impulses behind these choices are recognizable in theory, the characters themselves are broad to the point of abstraction.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Research suggests that those unable to regulate their media use struggle with cognitive control, such as less control over their impulses and greater distractibility.
—Angelica Mari, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
What begins as a chronicle of her parents, sister, and children’s efforts to secure her return, becomes a portrait of conflicting impulses towards anger, vengeance, and compassion, straining the bonds of one grieving family.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Discovering one’s impulses and sources (artistic self-knowledge) is essential for answering these questions.
—Douglas Unger
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
The unspeakable drama of these killings is an understandable draw to filmmakers interested in humanity’s worst impulses.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
It was taken in July 2022 at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort, during an annual tournament where high rollers at the property’s casino are rewarded for their questionable impulses by being paired on the course with celebrities.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
All of this is a strong echo of the rise of social-media giants, digital empires that have influenced the outcomes of elections and stoked some of the worst human impulses imaginable.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Allow the music to weave a story reflecting rock's swagger, refined by Texas country's cocksure and progressive-minded impulses.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Research suggests that those unable to regulate their media use struggle with cognitive control, such as less control over their impulses and greater distractibility.
—Angelica Mari, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
What begins as a chronicle of her parents, sister, and children’s efforts to secure her return, becomes a portrait of conflicting impulses towards anger, vengeance, and compassion, straining the bonds of one grieving family.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Discovering one’s impulses and sources (artistic self-knowledge) is essential for answering these questions.
—Douglas Unger
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
The unspeakable drama of these killings is an understandable draw to filmmakers interested in humanity’s worst impulses.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
It was taken in July 2022 at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort, during an annual tournament where high rollers at the property’s casino are rewarded for their questionable impulses by being paired on the course with celebrities.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
All of this is a strong echo of the rise of social-media giants, digital empires that have influenced the outcomes of elections and stoked some of the worst human impulses imaginable.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Allow the music to weave a story reflecting rock's swagger, refined by Texas country's cocksure and progressive-minded impulses.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
-
These centers offer further incentives to tech companies looking for enterprise customers.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Further billions are earmarked for technology upgrades, partnerships with state and local law enforcement, and retention incentives for ICE personnel.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those prompts might serve to reduce the AI’s default tendencies and keep the AI from going down rabbit holes with the person.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Dennis is often seen playing it as a way of acting out his manipulative tendencies toward actual human beings, and Dennis and Roman also go to a Hollywood party as Sims.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ward and Curlee also started the app Counterbalance, which provides daily encouragements, recipes, community and more.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
While the corrupt scheme was well documented journalistically and much of the evidence is indicative, ultimately Argentina's Judiciary followed its political inclinations all the way to the top.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
The artist’s ability to straddle the line between tomboy inclinations and ultra-glam moments is what has always attracted me to her style.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As Arrivia notes, loyalty programs that tailor offers to practical and emotional motivations will capture share not just in the short term, but across the customer lifecycle.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Prieguez told the Herald that now his motivations have changed.—
Joey Flechas,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Students are sorted into these houses based on their personalities and magical aptitudes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Using a mouse model lacking the Cntnap2 gene, scientists recorded heightened activity in the RTN when animals faced stimuli such as light flashes or air puffs.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Six years later, scientists at Yale showed that at the precise moment of conscious awareness of stimuli, a wave of electrical activity flows from the visual cortex located at the rear of the brain to the frontal lobes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The new film from the husband-and-lesbian-wife duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke features Margaret Qualley playing gay (again) as the titular detective Honey, with Aubrey Plaza co-starring as a gruff cop who is the object of her affections.—
James Factora,
Them.,
21 Aug. 2025
-
He was considered a front runner during the season for Windey’s affections, however, things didn't work out.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share