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
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Recent Examples of impulses
This era of Jane Remover—the music, which mainlines the noisiest impulses of SounDC, the discourse—is brasher and more acidic than ever.
—
Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Here, animals serve as vessels for our worst impulses, suffering at the point where curiosity turns to sadism, domination to cruelty, and self-interest to neglect.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
To borrow a phrase from a different rock-mockumentary, The Vampire Lestat will dial IWTV’s wildest impulses up to 11.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 June 2026
Now his eponymous impulses have expanded to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
The longer the process dragged on, the more the competing impulses pulled him in different directions.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Here, as ever, Kokopeli suggests that clinging to youthful talismans offers no protection against uncertainty, and reasserts the odd mix of disaffection and morbid glee produced by such reactionary impulses.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
The promise of Capello Index was to unify these two competing impulses, to create something that relied on judgement from an expert, while producing an objective number at the end.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
However, her albums can sound like a patchwork of impulses, torn between satiating her hardcore audience and designing a résumé for pop-radio rotation.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026
Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Here, animals serve as vessels for our worst impulses, suffering at the point where curiosity turns to sadism, domination to cruelty, and self-interest to neglect.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
To borrow a phrase from a different rock-mockumentary, The Vampire Lestat will dial IWTV’s wildest impulses up to 11.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 June 2026
Now his eponymous impulses have expanded to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
The longer the process dragged on, the more the competing impulses pulled him in different directions.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Here, as ever, Kokopeli suggests that clinging to youthful talismans offers no protection against uncertainty, and reasserts the odd mix of disaffection and morbid glee produced by such reactionary impulses.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
The promise of Capello Index was to unify these two competing impulses, to create something that relied on judgement from an expert, while producing an objective number at the end.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
However, her albums can sound like a patchwork of impulses, torn between satiating her hardcore audience and designing a résumé for pop-radio rotation.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
-
South Korea’s Serious Accidents Punishment Act holds executives legally accountable for fatal workplace accidents, creating additional incentives for companies to automate potentially hazardous tasks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
The space for compromise is narrow, and the incentives for posturing and brinksmanship are high.—
Ali Vaez,
Time,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
These tendencies, if not balanced by Humility and Collaboration, can undermine both their own well-being and the collective efforts of their team.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Lee’s philosophical tendencies are different from what White ran under Billy Donovan for six years.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After docking, the two satellites performed orbital-plane change maneuvers to reduce their orbital inclinations, a SpaceNews report explains.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Water also laps at the edges of the two standout tales, both bravura examples of Langan’s professorial, experimental inclinations.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Whatever their motivations, these hunting parties would not succeed, and the elk would elude its would-be killers for a little while longer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
That is always top of mind for writers like Ian Brennan, whose story about life and motivations of one of the most notorious murderers and grave robbers in American history was also an exploration of complex mental health struggles.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The cerebral circuitry of the human brain—specifically the salience network, which is responsible for filtering stimuli—seems to be more active in individuals with misophonia.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The ability to disconnect intentionally from these overwhelming stimuli—to reclaim one’s focus, clarity, and feeling of immediacy—has become rare and precious.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Spanish society has always had a relatively high tolerance for Latin American immigrants, who speak the local language and share certain cultural affinities.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
Squarcialupi said the time is now ripe for the brand to cross borders, toward Spain and other Mediterranean countries that have affinities with Italy.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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