impulsive

[ im-puhl-siv ]
See synonyms for: impulsiveimpulsivelyimpulsiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. actuated or swayed by emotional or involuntary impulses: an impulsive child.

  2. having the power or effect of impelling; characterized by impulsion: impulsive forces.

  1. inciting to action: the impulsive effects of a revolutionary idea.

  2. Mechanics. (of forces) acting momentarily; not continuous.

Origin of impulsive

1
First recorded in 1375–1425 for an earlier sense; 1545–55 for current senses; late Middle English impulsif, from Medieval Latin impulsīvus; see origin at impulse, -ive

synonym study For impulsive

1. See impetuous.

Other words for impulsive

Other words from impulsive

  • im·pul·sive·ly, adverb
  • im·pul·siv·i·ty [im-puhl-siv-i-tee], /ɪmˌpʌlˈsɪv ɪ ti/, im·pul·sive·ness, noun
  • non·im·pul·sive, adjective
  • non·im·pul·sive·ly, adverb
  • un·im·pul·sive, adjective
  • un·im·pul·sive·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with impulsive

Words Nearby impulsive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use impulsive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impulsive

impulsive

/ (ɪmˈpʌlsɪv) /


adjective
  1. characterized by actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought: an impulsive man

  2. based on emotional impulses or whims; spontaneous: an impulsive kiss

  1. forceful, inciting, or impelling

  2. (of physical forces) acting for a short time; not continuous

  3. (of a sound) brief, loud, and having a wide frequency range

Derived forms of impulsive

  • impulsively, adverb
  • impulsiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012