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impetuous

[ im-pech-oo-uhs ]
/ ɪmˈpɛtʃ u əs /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impetuous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by sudden or rash action, emotion, etc.; impulsive: an impetuous decision; an impetuous person.
having great impetus; moving with great force; violent: the impetuous winds.

RELATED WORDS

ardent, impulsive, abrupt, eager, fervid, fierce, furious, hasty, headlong, hurried, impassioned, passionate, precipitate, precipitous, rash, restive, rushing, spontaneous, sudden, swift

Nearby words

  1. impetigo herpetiformis,
  2. impetigo neonatorum,
  3. impetigo vulgaris,
  4. impetrate,
  5. impetuosity,
  6. impetus,
  7. impf.,
  8. imphal,
  9. impi,
  10. impiety

Origin of impetuous

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Late Latin impetuōsus, equivalent to Latin impetu(s) impetus + -ōsus -ous
SYNONYMS FOR impetuous
1 eager, headlong. Impetuous, impulsive both refer to persons who are hasty and precipitate in action, or to actions not preceded by thought. Impetuous suggests eagerness, violence, rashness: impetuous vivacity; impetuous desire; impetuous words. Impulsive emphasizes spontaneity and lack of reflection: an impulsive act of generosity.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impetuous ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formsim·pet·u·ous·ly, adverbim·pet·u·ous·ness, noun
Can be confusedcompulsive impulsive impetuous (see synonym study at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for impetuous

British Dictionary definitions for impetuous

impetuous

/ (ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs) /

adjective

liable to act without consideration; rash; impulsive
resulting from or characterized by rashness or haste
poetic moving with great force or violence; rushingthe impetuous stream hurtled down the valley
Derived Formsimpetuously, adverbimpetuousness or impetuosity (ɪmˌpɛtjʊˈɒsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for impetuous

C14: from Late Latin impetuōsus violent; see impetus
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

Word Origin and History for impetuous

impetuous

adj.

late 14c., "hot-tempered, fierce," from Old French impetuos (13c.) and directly from Late Latin impetuosus "impetuous, violent," from Latin impetus "attack" (see impetus). Related: Impetuously; impetuousness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper