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
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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
In choosing Grok, Hegseth has selected the tool of war which best mirrors his own darkest impulses — one that will reflect back on every air strike without a hint of remorse.
—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 14, Futurism, 14 Jan. 2026
The resulting portrait is of a man who is ideologically malleable, always ready to execute on the President’s most draconian impulses.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Adams, Washington’s successor, possessed monarchical impulses, but not a monarchical aura.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Medical device center employees have been trying to temper those impulses.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
The first season’s achievement was making these two impulses feel indivisible.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
The project veered toward her most experimental impulses, stretching to nearly 90 minutes of drones and eerie spoken word.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
The tool monitors brain signals in real time, using implants to record electrical impulses, and AI to analyze the outputs and flag warning signs of relapse.
—Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
His boys resist their impulses and core traits, but can never be successful for long in that rebellion.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 14, Futurism, 14 Jan. 2026
The resulting portrait is of a man who is ideologically malleable, always ready to execute on the President’s most draconian impulses.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Adams, Washington’s successor, possessed monarchical impulses, but not a monarchical aura.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Medical device center employees have been trying to temper those impulses.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
The first season’s achievement was making these two impulses feel indivisible.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
The project veered toward her most experimental impulses, stretching to nearly 90 minutes of drones and eerie spoken word.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
The tool monitors brain signals in real time, using implants to record electrical impulses, and AI to analyze the outputs and flag warning signs of relapse.
—Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
His boys resist their impulses and core traits, but can never be successful for long in that rebellion.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
-
Kansas and Missouri have spent the past 18 months trying to secure the team through sweeping stadium-funding incentives packages — which the Chiefs used last month to announce their intentions for a move to Kansas.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The country is largely focused on a self-sufficiency drive to build up its chipmaking capabilities, a push that’s included readying a new round of incentives of as much as $70 billion for the chip sector.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The modern world offers an endless selection of rabbit holes, into which those of us with obsessive tendencies can pour virtually unlimited amounts of time, energy and love.—
Loz Blain
January 15,
New Atlas,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some past tendencies may offer a hint.—
Jess Bryant,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This time around, the cuisine will focus on Laura’s roots, offering up dishes that show off Mexico’s culinary inclinations.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
11 Jan. 2026
-
His beliefs and artistic inclinations were protean and often contradictory.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Trump has repeatedly touted Venezuela’s rich oil supply as among the motivations for the January 2 military assault on the country and the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who has since been charged with drug trafficking and weapons possession.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Though the videos did not reveal a motive, the federal investigation into Valente’s motivations will continue, the US attorney’s office said.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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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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
-
China’s global influence is further constrained by weak cultural affinities with other countries.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
By this decade, your body has started to naturally lose muscle mass, and putting on new muscle may be more difficult due to anabolic resistance, which blunts the muscle’s ability to respond to external stimuli like exercise and protein.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
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Word games, information sleuthing, instructional videos, and even just chatting with friends can provide positive stimuli.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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