impulsive
Americanadjective
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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
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forceful, inciting, or impelling
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(of physical forces) acting for a short time; not continuous
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(of a sound) brief, loud, and having a wide frequency range
Related Words
See impetuous.
Other Word Forms
- impulsively adverb
- impulsiveness noun
- impulsivity noun
- nonimpulsive adjective
- nonimpulsively adverb
- unimpulsive adjective
- unimpulsively adverb
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; impulse, -ive
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.
The plot basically sticks to the first seven chapters of the 100-chapter novel, which concerns an engagingly impulsive monkey who obtains superpowers and, to protect his monkey community, enjoys one wily adventure after another.
From Los Angeles Times
He had been impulsive, couldn’t sit still and hated school—his stomach hurt every morning when he went.
But any changes to it must be grounded in thoughtful institutional reform—not impulsive social media posts.
From Barron's
Known by residents as blunt and impulsive, Manzo had a hands-on approach to law enforcement.
Team-mates describe him as "not a bad person, just impulsive", someone who takes things personally but quickly calms down.
From BBC
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.
