impulsive
Americanadjective
-
characterized by actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought
an impulsive man
-
based on emotional impulses or whims; spontaneous
an impulsive kiss
-
forceful, inciting, or impelling
-
(of physical forces) acting for a short time; not continuous
-
(of a sound) brief, loud, and having a wide frequency range
Synonym Usage
See impetuous.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of impulsive
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
Explanation
If someone is impulsive, it means that they act on instinct, without thinking decisions through. If you worked for an entire year to save money for a car and then suddenly decided to spend it all on a diamond tiara instead, that would be an impulsive purchase. Impulses are short, quick feelings, and if someone is in the habit of acting on them, they're impulsive. When stores stock chocolate at the checkout line, they are hoping you will impulsively decide to buy it. When you call the person you have a crush on after promising yourself all day to maintain an air of dignified reserve, that's impulsive behavior. We might also call impulsive behavior whimsical or capricious.
Vocabulary lists containing impulsive
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Lightning Thief
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dracula
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two men are entranced by her, a suave doctor played by David Niven and Richard Conte’s impulsive race-car driver.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Hundreds of patients or their families told the BBC they didn't make the connection between impulsive behaviours and the drugs until it was too late.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Schylling is now an unintentional power player in the scarcity economy, where shortages—whether real or manufactured—drive rapid, impulsive sales.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
So really, the message here is that we should all be more impulsive and slightly unhinged — Anna ends up living her Tuscan dreams after all.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
“And from the sound of things, she was feeling rather impulsive that night.”
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
