Definitions

impulsive

[im-puhl-siv] / ɪmˈpʌl sɪv /

ADJECTIVE

tending to act without thought

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abrupt hasty impetuous instinctive offhand passionate spontaneous violent

WEAK

ad-lib automatic careless devil-may-care emotional extemporaneous flaky gone off deep end headlong hot-and-cold intuitive involuntary jumping the gun mad precipitate quick rash sudden swift unconsidered unexpected unmeditated unpredictable unpremeditated unprompted up-and-down winging it

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm deliberate planned sensible

WEAK

cautious considering heedful premeditative thoughtful wise

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.

Mr. Morgan, whose inspiration seems clear enough—Robert De Niro’s Johnny Boy—is terrific as the half-crazy, wildly impulsive Mickey, whose abduction by the Italians occupies much of the early going.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026

“I sometimes would cite Greenspan as being a little quicker to move and a little more impulsive and maybe more willing to take a surprise move,” Bullard said.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026

Sybiga said on Friday he planned to return an award he received from Poland in 2022 after the "unjustified, impulsive and disrespectful" decision.

From Barron's • Jun. 20, 2026

"He's not academic, he did silly impulsive things at school without thinking," he continued.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

It isn’t very bar mitzvah, but it wouldn’t be me unless I did at least one stupid, impulsive thing.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Vocabulary lists containing impulsive

List 1

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The Lightning Thief

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Dracula

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