1
as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
the new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inclination
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
the universal, fundamental impulse of self-preservation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 impulse
All these years later, that performance's moral ambiguity is a feature, not a bug, and there's a thrill to watching Hackman deftly navigate the character's warring impulses.
—
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
And, whereas during the first Trump term there was enough chaos and resistance inside the government that some of Trump’s more damaging impulses—to withdraw from NATO, for example—could be slow-walked into oblivion, this time around was different.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
Their impulse is emphatically to deny such discrimination.
—Linn Washington, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025
From sudden lunges to bursts of territorial aggression, the animals’ behavior evidenced a simple biological truth: Wild animals are driven by evolutionary impulses that cannot be suppressed in their entirety by human intervention.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulse
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
And, whereas during the first Trump term there was enough chaos and resistance inside the government that some of Trump’s more damaging impulses—to withdraw from NATO, for example—could be slow-walked into oblivion, this time around was different.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
Their impulse is emphatically to deny such discrimination.
—Linn Washington, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025
From sudden lunges to bursts of territorial aggression, the animals’ behavior evidenced a simple biological truth: Wild animals are driven by evolutionary impulses that cannot be suppressed in their entirety by human intervention.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulse
Noun
-
Targeted retaliation is designed to give supporters of Donald Trump an incentive to try to persuade him to deescalate any trade war.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
-
In a region with robust transit alternatives, tolling also serves as an incentive for commuters to explore more sustainable transportation modes, reducing congestion and emissions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This told them that all coral structures take their shape from individual polyps’ microscopic inclinations.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 Feb. 2025
-
His geopolitical inclinations have not changed, and his antidemocratic tendencies have only gotten worse.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Bitcoin Bitcoin remains trapped in a range below the key psychological level of $100,000 without any new impetus from Trump.—
Medora Lee,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
That’s not an overwhelming financial impetus, but a team in the Giants’ position can allocate that money better.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Beyond The Basics Successful investing requires mastering behavioral tendencies, and effective retirement planning demands a clear view of your financial reality.—
Wayne Anderman,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
And so, your natural tendency to believe that everyone is operating in good faith takes a real beating.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
That is, encouragement that’s backed up with specific reasons and rationale.—
Scott Mautz, Contributor,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Mentors provide guidance, encouragement and constructive feedback, helping mentees build the confidence needed to take risks, lead projects and contribute meaningfully.—
Doug Flaig,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The combination of IoT and AI enables connected devices to collect, analyze and act on data in real-time.—
Rahul Saluja,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Just in time for Christmas, certain members of Congress are hard at work in their policy shops, fashioning a massive lump of cybersecurity coal with which to gift American users of electronic devices.—
David Williams,
National Review,
26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The Speaker of the House also threw cold water on the idea of a DOGE Dividend stimulus check according to The Hill.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Will there be a DOGE stimulus check?What to know about whether Americans will see savings Another step to take is to start moving a few hundred dollars of your monthly take-home pay into an emergency savings fund, a dwindling backup many Americans have had to dip into amid rising costs.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
His aptitude for pitching, Cotham said, was more advanced than anyone he’s known at that age.—
Matt Gelb,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck, The Athletic: Gluck took Christopher Bell, citing the upped numbers of Toyotas on the road this year and Bell’s aptitude as an all-around racer.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulse. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share