1
as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
an impulsive purchase of a very expensive jacket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions
an impulsive woman who never seems to have the same opinion about anything for longer than 10 minutes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impulsive
Góra works wonders in making Nel, who is on her home turf and facing the routines of daily life, a practical foil for the ardently impulsive voyager Bethany.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025
As a consumer advocate, too many of my readers' cases begin with a cocktail – especially the ones involving an impulsive timeshare purchase.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
And youngest son Yoshi is impulsive and highly distractible, forever bouncing from one crazy scheme to the next without considering the consequences.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
His impulsive diplomacy and disregard for allies make a sustainable peace unlikely.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025
As a consumer advocate, too many of my readers' cases begin with a cocktail – especially the ones involving an impulsive timeshare purchase.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
And youngest son Yoshi is impulsive and highly distractible, forever bouncing from one crazy scheme to the next without considering the consequences.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
His impulsive diplomacy and disregard for allies make a sustainable peace unlikely.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulsive
Adjective
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Paxton’s interest in Paul’s plight was bizarre, obsessive and so far beyond normal operations at the attorney general’s office that the agency’s top officials struggled to convey their concerns during the hourslong meeting with two FBI agents.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Although Harold is not literary fiction’s first obsessive ruminator, what makes Muscle Man feel so plugged into the moment is how common the predicament feels.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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While any single month can be volatile and revisions can further change our understanding, hiring ground to a halt in May and June in the uncertain aftermath of the Liberation Day tariff announcements.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To identify workaholics, the researchers used established psychological surveys that measure both excessive and compulsive working tendencies.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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These states often trigger compulsive scrolling or posting, not because of the content itself, but because of the emotional tension underneath.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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They are set to reprise their roles as Jet and Frances, respectively, the Owens sisters’ eccentric aunts who educate them on all things magic.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2025
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Originally a mansion built in 1881, the 14-room boutique hotel feels like staying at your eccentric friend’s country home in the best way; splashy decor and mixed prints characterize the aesthetic, and many of the pieces are handmade or one-of-a-kind.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Mid-century collective behavior theories considered social movements to be nonrational, spontaneous events occurring during moments of social and cultural breakdown.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
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This bill would entrench West Oakland and many other neighborhoods across the state as sacrifice zones, forcing us to deal with toxic chemicals and spontaneous fires for the sake of corporate profits.—
Brian Beveridge,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At one point in the set, during a characteristically epic, multipart number, the music turned moody and the stage blacked out.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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Johnson’s look for the Kering Foundation’s Caring for Women dinner in New York City leaned on dark moody details.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His continued snubbing is a reflection of the capricious dynamics that so often dictate where the trophy ends up.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Moreover, Burroughs further held that the administration’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Johnson Hartig, the brand's CEO and Creative Director, whose whimsical graphics, collage-effect embellishments, and historical references are core to the brand ethos, also met the moment in today's fraught political and cultural environment with his show.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cardi's body art is significantly brighter and more colorful thanks to Schene's additional touch-ups to her decade-old tattoo, which included a whimsical hot pink butterfly, several new peacock feathers and flowers, among other eccentric details.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulsive. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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