Synonym Chooser

How is the word impulsive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of impulsive are automatic, instinctive, mechanical, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

In what contexts can automatic take the place of impulsive?

The words automatic and impulsive can be used in similar contexts, but automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

When is instinctive a more appropriate choice than impulsive?

In some situations, the words instinctive and impulsive are roughly equivalent. However, instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When can mechanical be used instead of impulsive?

Although the words mechanical and impulsive have much in common, mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

When might spontaneous be a better fit than impulsive?

While in some cases nearly identical to impulsive, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impulsive This perspective can help avoid mistakes stemming from poor tax planning or impulsive financial decisions. Rory O'Hara, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 People with depression may be distracted on the road, have a slower reaction time, or have careless or impulsive driving behaviors, like hard braking or speeding. Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 9 Jan. 2025 Mia’s impulsive choices, and the consequences of those decisions, are now the rollercoaster that is driving the season, and no one is enjoying this. Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025 At 18 months your child is curious, fearless, impulsive, mobile, and unaware of the consequences of their actions—a recipe for trouble. Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for impulsive 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulsive
Adjective
  • While micromanagement is typically associated with excessive and obsessive involvement in employees' tasks, Gallup research reveals that the issue is not too much involvement, but rather too little.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
  • The story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest to take revenge on the white whale who bit off his leg is an American classic and has been read in countless classrooms since its publication in 1851.
    Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But, looking at a slightly longer period, the increase in MMM stock over the last four-year period has been far from consistent, with annual returns being more volatile than the S&P 500.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Trump has pledged to hand management of his assets to his children, but ethics experts have criticized his crypto ventures as raising conflict of interest issues and stoking speculation in a volatile asset class.
    Tom Westbrook, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • For the rest of the day, she’s freed from the compulsive, habit-forming pull of digital screens.
    Raj Goyle, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
  • How Joe Manganiello turned being a 'compulsive math nerd' into Deal or No Deal Island job In terms of the inter-personal drama, DONDI in some ways feels like a throwback to old-school Survivor, which has taken on a kinder, gentler lean in its new era.
    EW.com, EW.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But every character involved has a charmingly eccentric quirk—an eye patch, an obsession with drapes, an ever-present log, an affinity for doughnuts and cherry pie.
    Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
  • My entire childhood, I was surrounded by all of the beautiful, eccentric people who lived in this city.
    Allure Editors, Allure, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • My creative process is instinctive and spontaneous.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Read More: These Are the Best Ways to Improve Your Memory In addition, bus drivers, aircraft pilots, and ship captains—the jobs with less spontaneous decision-making—had Alzheimer’s death rates typical of the rest of the population.
    Christopher M. Worsham, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • As climate change makes California’s already moody swings between wet and dry more ferocious, the state’s water problems between farmers, environmentalists and cities are getting harder to solve.
    Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The filmmaker teases that a potential sequel would put Emily and Matt’s children — moody teenage daughter Alice (McKenna Roberts) and tech-savvy younger son Leo (Rylan Jackson) — front and center.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Flashback: The recent arbitrary and capricious finding was not the first time a court labeled an SEC decision that way.
    Brady Dale, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
  • But Trump’s capricious decision-making, erratic pronouncements and desire for dominance meant Pence was often publicly embarrassed and the status of his office downgraded.
    Roy Brownell, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Like monstera, split leaf philodendron has giant, shapely green leaves that bring a whimsical, maximalist feel to a room.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The collection pairs with Pulitzer’s flutter hearts print and whimsical Resort Collection designs.
    Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near impulsive

Cite this Entry

“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulsive. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on impulsive

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