impulsive

UK: /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ US: /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ ,(im pul′siv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pul•sive /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/   adj. 

1. caused by or swayed by impulse:
   an impulsive action.

im•pul•sive•ly, adv.: 

reached out impulsively and took his hand.

im•pul•sive•ness, n. [uncountable] See -puls-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pul•sive  (im pul′siv), adj. 

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

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

im•pul′sive•ly, adv. 
im•pul′sive•ness, im′pul•siv′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. rash, quick, hasty. See impetuous. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impulsive / ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ adjective

1. characterized by actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought: an impulsive man
2. based on emotional impulses or whims; spontaneous
3. forceful, inciting, or impelling
4. (of physical forces) acting for a short time; not continuous
5. (of a sound) brief, loud, and having a wide frequency range

imˈpulsively adverb

imˈpulsiveness noun