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
Folks are making just horrible decisions, impulsive decisions with the inability to resolve relatively basic conflict.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 June 2024
Despite Freud's great wealth, Rose grew up in bohemian poverty, not helped by her mother's impulsive nature, which led her to swap the family home for a long voyage on a leaky cargo ship when Rose was seven.
—The Week Staff, theweek, 6 June 2024
Slowing down impulsive decisions in crisis can save lives
Dr. Bert Berger is a clinical psychologist and division manager for the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs and director of the Captain John D. Mason program.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2024
Weaknesses: Their impulsive nature may lead to rash decision-making, potentially causing instability or unintended consequences.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for impulsive 
Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 June 2024
Despite Freud's great wealth, Rose grew up in bohemian poverty, not helped by her mother's impulsive nature, which led her to swap the family home for a long voyage on a leaky cargo ship when Rose was seven.
—The Week Staff, theweek, 6 June 2024
Slowing down impulsive decisions in crisis can save lives
Dr. Bert Berger is a clinical psychologist and division manager for the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs and director of the Captain John D. Mason program.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2024
Weaknesses: Their impulsive nature may lead to rash decision-making, potentially causing instability or unintended consequences.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for impulsive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near impulsive
Cite this Entry
“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impulsive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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