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
-
These discussions include possible revenue sharing between the data company and village along with tax incentives.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Those changes were designed to reduce incentives for excessive litigation, particularly in insurance claims.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
8 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
-
There were inclinations to not fully believe in their capabilities against Argentina.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Chowchilla digs into the criminal motivations and legal repercussions, exploring how those affected by the crime fared in the decades since.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
Mercury — now in Cancer and your eighth house of joint ventures and psychological motivations — will clash with Saturn, which could trigger serious conversations around dating, children or even financial entanglements.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 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
-
One of the main impetuses for this is that newer planes are flying further, which means airline routes are getting longer.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 June 2025
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 15 Jun. 2026.
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