Impulsive

/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/

adjectivemedium📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Characterized by acting or done without forethought or careful consideration.

/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Acting or done without forethought.

He made an impulsive purchase of a sports car.

💡 Simply: Being impulsive is like when you suddenly decide to do something without thinking about it first, like buying a cool toy on the spot without checking if you have enough money.

👶 For kids: Doing something quickly without thinking about it.

More Examples

2

She has an impulsive nature, often acting on her feelings.

3

The impulsive reaction led to an immediate apology.

How It's Used

Psychology

"Impulsive behavior can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition."

Everyday Life

"She made an impulsive decision to quit her job."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Latin impulsus, past participle of impellere ('to urge on, drive forward'), from in- ('in, on') + pellere ('to drive').

The word's usage has remained fairly consistent throughout history, describing a tendency to act without planning.

Memory tip

Imagine pushing a button (impulse) without thinking – that's impulsive!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to drive forward"

impulsive behaviorimpulsive decisionimpulsive acthighly impulsive

Common misspellings

implusiveimpulsve

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written