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
The London-via-Paris jazz artist embraces her neo-soul leanings and experimental impulses on an EP that explores the pleasures and perils of gassing yourself up.
—
Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
That sense of both protectiveness and distancing will be familiar to most readers who have been sixteen; the difference, though, is that the parental figure that provoked these conflicting impulses was almost certainly not the founder of a fascist organization.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The State of the Swamp, in a single evening, put both of these impulses on display.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
After all, one of the persistent impulses of modern art has been to antagonize people of correct sensibilities, to subvert their cherished institutions.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Listen to what your impulses and instincts tell you.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
Democratic hopefuls in the race would be wise to restrain their most progressive impulses, said Robert Pruehs, a political science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Think about Saturn’s boundary-setting, groundwork-loving nature being applied to Neptune’s ability to energize your artistic impulses and idealism.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
That sense of both protectiveness and distancing will be familiar to most readers who have been sixteen; the difference, though, is that the parental figure that provoked these conflicting impulses was almost certainly not the founder of a fascist organization.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The State of the Swamp, in a single evening, put both of these impulses on display.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
After all, one of the persistent impulses of modern art has been to antagonize people of correct sensibilities, to subvert their cherished institutions.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Listen to what your impulses and instincts tell you.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
Democratic hopefuls in the race would be wise to restrain their most progressive impulses, said Robert Pruehs, a political science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Think about Saturn’s boundary-setting, groundwork-loving nature being applied to Neptune’s ability to energize your artistic impulses and idealism.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
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Meanwhile, productions that promote the state’s narrative receive support and financial incentives like tax breaks.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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The bigger lesson for HR leaders is that Tulsa’s strategy is not really about cash incentives alone.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film noir tackles the corruptive tendencies of power, with Broderick Crawford as a populist politician who rises up as a Southern governor and wields dangerous influence.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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Like most of us, FIG shed its more rebellious tendencies over time.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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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
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This is the standard for ramp inclinations that are usable for most people, especially wheelchair users.—
K. Desbouis,
Artforum,
6 Feb. 2026
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Trump’s inclinations to make every race about him could foul this for the GOP.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The interior worlds of these women remain obscured and their motivations go unexplored.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
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In fact, Rosenberg is exposing the fragile foundation beneath such motivations.—
Isle McElroy,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Players have to create teams that exploit a boss’ weakness in order to defeat them, and that means building up characters that have the right elemental affinities.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The driving rock guitars and layered vocal textures recall TV on the Radio’s experimentation, and Galanin shares certain vocal and political affinities with Moses Sumney.—
Petala Ironcloud,
Pitchfork,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Wang, however, projects each of these choice from deep within, crafting a character who’s both uncomfortable with his reactions to people, emotions and external stimuli, but is, at this point in his life, also unfortunately used to his discomforts, and begrudgingly accepts them.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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Silence and Darkness Induces a Meditative State Sensory deprivation, the intentional removal of external stimuli like sounds or visuals (a la sitting in a coffin), can reduce brain stimulation and cause a state of deep relaxation.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Outside,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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