as in capriciousness
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions
his irrepressible impulsiveness sometimes got him into trouble
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Recent Examples of impulsiveness
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.
—
James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Lofland says that while Cooper’s decisions might frustrate the audience, his impulsiveness is an important part of what makes the character tick.
—William Earl, Variety, 14 Dec. 2025
The novel Elphie follows the witch from infancy, shaped by her mother Melena’s impulsiveness and her father Frex’s stern piety, and navigating the jealousies that arise with the arrivals of her siblings, Nessarose and Shell.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
But will his personal interests and impulsiveness keep him from his goal?
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
Some viewers find her impulsiveness more irritating than endearing.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Farrell’s Sonny Crockett is a brooding, messy, temperamental cop whose impulsiveness and (ahem) intensity is balanced by his mopey vulnerability.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
The synergy between Scorpio’s intensity and Aries’ impulsiveness can spark drama, but also breakthroughs, specifically in relationships or collaborations where unspoken truths have been building.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Lofland says that while Cooper’s decisions might frustrate the audience, his impulsiveness is an important part of what makes the character tick.
—William Earl, Variety, 14 Dec. 2025
The novel Elphie follows the witch from infancy, shaped by her mother Melena’s impulsiveness and her father Frex’s stern piety, and navigating the jealousies that arise with the arrivals of her siblings, Nessarose and Shell.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
But will his personal interests and impulsiveness keep him from his goal?
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
Some viewers find her impulsiveness more irritating than endearing.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Farrell’s Sonny Crockett is a brooding, messy, temperamental cop whose impulsiveness and (ahem) intensity is balanced by his mopey vulnerability.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
The synergy between Scorpio’s intensity and Aries’ impulsiveness can spark drama, but also breakthroughs, specifically in relationships or collaborations where unspoken truths have been building.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulsiveness
Noun
-
The capriciousness of fate was not lost on Karstens and many of the survivors.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
23 Dec. 2025
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The president’s bombast and capriciousness have led many European countries to increase their defense spending—a positive outcome, to be sure, and not inherently at odds with the notion of a unified, geopolitical West.—
Stewart Patrick,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
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The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Malinin’s meltdown from favorite to eighth place underscored the unpredictability of the Olympic stage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
There are some subtleties to the mechanism that can explain the unpredictability of loss of desire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For all its ills, social media can also be an entry point for anyone interested in Chicago history and the city’s varied eccentricities.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Lulu’s eccentric confidence — or, better put, her confidence in her own eccentricity — carves out a space for her in an episode that’s otherwise fairly plain, all without a whiff of judgement.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impulsiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulsiveness. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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