Link Centre Dictionary

impulsive

im·pul·sive

UK/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ US/ˌɪˈmpʌlsɪv/ fairly common

adjective

1.

proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus

  • “an impulsive gesture of affection”
Synonyms
2.

without forethought

  • “letting him borrow her car was an impulsive act that she immediately regretted”
3.

having the power of driving or impelling

  • “a driving personal ambition”
  • “the driving force was his innate enthusiasm”
  • “an impulsive force”
Synonyms
Similar
4.

determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason

  • “a capricious refusal”
  • “authoritarian rulers are frequently capricious”
  • “the victim of whimsical persecutions”
5.

characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation

  • “a hotheaded decision”
  • “liable to such impulsive acts as hugging strangers”
  • “an impetuous display of spending and gambling”
  • “madcap escapades”
  • “brainish”

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French impulsif, from Latin impulsivus.

Phrases

  • impulsive speech

Related words

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.