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
His autodidactic impulses may lead him to the history of clock towers or to the interplanetary rarity of wood.
—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Perhaps one of his impulses was not entirely off base.
—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
22 June 2026
Whereas pain is a primary mode of these antithetical impulses, as are hate, fear, anger and shame.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Its hybrid analog-digital approach allows Alfa free rein to actualize his impulses, while the meditative atmosphere prompts reflection on where those impulses come from.
—
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Users can choose how to interact with the physical media and are less reliant on the impulses of global media and streaming platforms.
—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
14 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
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Perhaps one of his impulses was not entirely off base.
—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
22 June 2026
Whereas pain is a primary mode of these antithetical impulses, as are hate, fear, anger and shame.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Its hybrid analog-digital approach allows Alfa free rein to actualize his impulses, while the meditative atmosphere prompts reflection on where those impulses come from.
—
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Users can choose how to interact with the physical media and are less reliant on the impulses of global media and streaming platforms.
—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
14 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
-
And given that such systems are physically possible, powerful economic and strategic incentives exist for technologists and entrepreneurs to build them.
-
The restrictions apply to existing single-family homes, not new construction, a carveout that preserves incentives for financial firms to invest in new housing construction, the staffer noted.
Noun
-
The same tendencies people are routinely told to correct are, in moderate form, closely tied to a busier, more exploratory style of thinking than most self-improvement advice accounts for.
-
Plath shows up in Dederer’s book about (mostly) men who make great art and live monstrous lives (and what to do with them), but only as a woman who turns her violent tendencies against herself.
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.
Noun
-
Choosing a college major has always felt like a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries—new engineering and computer science grads earn more than those with English degrees.
-
There were inclinations to not fully believe in their capabilities against Argentina.
Noun
-
In reality, each participating party often enters the relationship with different drivers, motivations and expectations.
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Indeed, suspicions of the motivations related to anything that would expose students to more (rather than less) of the neighbor waging war against Ukraine almost derailed the project.
Noun
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For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.
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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.
Noun
-
One of the main impetuses for this is that newer planes are flying further, which means airline routes are getting longer.
Noun
-
In her memoir, Andrews mentions that her children briefly attended UCLA Lab School and that Joanna had affinities for horseback riding and reading.
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Spanish society has always had a relatively high tolerance for Latin American immigrants, who speak the local language and share certain cultural affinities.
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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