impulsive
adjective
im·pul·sive
im-ˈpəl-siv 
Examples of impulsive in a Sentence
I couldn't make out exactly what had happened, though I could guess how it started—the two of them talking, kidding around when Mrs. Ramsey came down to the library basement to file some periodicals, an impulsive kiss in the stacks …
—
Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
There was an odd nobility, a knight-errant quality, about Alan—in his willingness to suffer for the sake of life itself, in his tendency to view himself under harsher light than he would turn on others, in his impulsive generosity.
—Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999
So speaks Maude Bailey, the celibate feminist scholar heroine of A. S. Byatt's fifth novel, as, in an impulsive collusion with a male scholar she scarcely knows, she runs off to Brittany.
—Joyce Carol Oates, Vogue, November 1990
She's impulsive and often does things that she later regrets.
He needs to learn to control his impulsive behavior.
She made an impulsive decision to quit her job.
Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
There was an odd nobility, a knight-errant quality, about Alan—in his willingness to suffer for the sake of life itself, in his tendency to view himself under harsher light than he would turn on others, in his impulsive generosity.
—Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999
So speaks Maude Bailey, the celibate feminist scholar heroine of A. S. Byatt's fifth novel, as, in an impulsive collusion with a male scholar she scarcely knows, she runs off to Brittany.
—Joyce Carol Oates, Vogue, November 1990
She's impulsive and often does things that she later regrets.
He needs to learn to control his impulsive behavior.
She made an impulsive decision to quit her job.
Recent Examples on the Web
To tell the story of a middle-aged man’s impulsive leap into restaurant ownership, he’s gathered an accomplished cast wielding effortless charm.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
Could this change in spending from non-essential items to more essential ones mean a realignment away from impulsive internet purchases and toward more bare essentials?
—Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
More love games for Ellie and Dina The show’s framing of Dina is overall very different, giving her much deeper tactical knowledge and street smarts than the more impulsive Ellie.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
This was a sincere, musical Apollo — full of heat and strength, but also youthful and unaffected, impulsive and curious.
—Thea Traff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
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Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
Could this change in spending from non-essential items to more essential ones mean a realignment away from impulsive internet purchases and toward more bare essentials?
—Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
More love games for Ellie and Dina The show’s framing of Dina is overall very different, giving her much deeper tactical knowledge and street smarts than the more impulsive Ellie.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
This was a sincere, musical Apollo — full of heat and strength, but also youthful and unaffected, impulsive and curious.
—Thea Traff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
Cite this Entry
“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impulsive. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impulsive
adjective
im·pul·sive
im-ˈpəl-siv
1
: acting or tending to act on impulse
2
: resulting from a sudden impulse
impulsively
adverb
impulsiveness
noun
Medical Definition
impulsive
adjective
im·pul·sive
im-ˈpəl-siv
1
: having the power of or actually driving or impelling
2
: actuated by or prone to act on impulse
impulsive behavior
3
: acting momentarily
brief impulsive auditory stimuli
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