DEFINITIONS
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impulsive

[ im-puhl-siv ]
/ ɪmˈpʌl sɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR impulsive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

actuated or swayed by emotional or involuntary impulses: an impulsive child.
having the power or effect of impelling; characterized by impulsion: impulsive forces.
inciting to action: the impulsive effects of a revolutionary idea.
Mechanics. (of forces) acting momentarily; not continuous.

Words related to impulsive

impetuous, offhand, hasty, violent, abrupt, instinctive, passionate, spontaneous, ad-lib, automatic, careless, devil-may-care, emotional, extemporaneous, flaky, headlong, intuitive, involuntary, mad, precipitate

Words nearby impulsive

impulse, impulse buying, impulse control disorder, impulse turbine, impulsion, impulsive, impulsive obsession, impundulu, impunity, impure, impure flutter

Origin of impulsive

1375–1425 for an earlier sense; 1545–55 for current senses; late Middle English impulsif < Medieval Latin impulsīvus. See impulse, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM impulsive

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH impulsive

compulsive impulsive impetuous (see synonym study at impetuous)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for impulsive

British Dictionary definitions for impulsive

impulsive
/ (ɪmˈpʌlsɪv) /

adjective

characterized by actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thoughtan impulsive man
based on emotional impulses or whims; spontaneousan 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

Derived forms of impulsive

impulsively, adverbimpulsiveness, 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

Medicine definitions for impulsive

impulsive
[ ĭm-pŭl′sĭv ]

adj.

Inclined or tending to act on impulse rather than thought.
Motivated by or resulting from impulse.

Other words from impulsive

im•pul′sive•ness null n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.