impulsive
Americanadjective
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characterized by actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought
an impulsive man
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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
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
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The Lightning Thief
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Dracula
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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.
A planned splurge can be enjoyed without damaging one’s finances, while an impulsive splurge has little thought behind it.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
By comparing MRI scans with psychopathy assessment results, the researchers found that a larger striatum was linked to a stronger need for stimulation, including thrill-seeking, excitement, and impulsive behavior.
From Science Daily • May 10, 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
By temperament, he was inherently impulsive, highly combustible, instinctively irreverent.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
