1
as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
an impulsive purchase of a very expensive jacket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions
an impulsive woman who never seems to have the same opinion about anything for longer than 10 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impulsive
Bobby is smart and well-behaved; Skeeter is loud, charismatic, and impulsive, though ultimately good-hearted and well-intentioned.
—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
But the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-to-late 20s, making young people more susceptible to impulsive behavior while gambling.
—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
The underlying songwriting is impulsive, but many tracks adopt a deliberately sedate mood or sort through dense clusters of cut-up loops, and Alfa’s spatialization gives the album a pallor that can resemble brain fog.
—
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Then the coach known as the most impulsive man on an NFL sideline runs that stop sign, grits his teeth and breaks unbound into character.
—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
But the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-to-late 20s, making young people more susceptible to impulsive behavior while gambling.
—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
The underlying songwriting is impulsive, but many tracks adopt a deliberately sedate mood or sort through dense clusters of cut-up loops, and Alfa’s spatialization gives the album a pallor that can resemble brain fog.
—
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Then the coach known as the most impulsive man on an NFL sideline runs that stop sign, grits his teeth and breaks unbound into character.
—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulsive
Adjective
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This highly competent, obsessive duo tumbles into a self-destructive cat-and-mouse dynamic — but who’s the cat and who’s the mouse?
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However, popular culture can’t fully explain why summer camps hold such a nostalgic and almost obsessive place in the nation’s collective consciousness.
Adjective
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Related Stories Set in 1948 Malaya in the volatile years that followed the end of World War II, the film traces a Malay soldier and a British soldier who are left behind after the British military withdraws.
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While the rally continued into early 2026, trade soon turned volatile.
Adjective
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Chronic decision fatigue can show up as procrastination, avoidance, irritability, indecisiveness, emotional numbness, compulsive information gathering or an overreliance on consensus.
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Experts say crime and violence are strongly linked to issues with impulse control, and the drugs appear to work on parts of the brain linked to compulsive behavior like overeating.
Adjective
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Gardone Riviera itself is worth a wander, with the eccentric Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former estate of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, a short walk from the hotel.
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For Bielsa and Uruguay, this marks the end of an era in which many believe the Argentine coach lost control of the locker room and his relationship with the media became strained because of his eccentric and explosive personality, but, above all, a lack of wins.
Adjective
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First, bringing tried-and-true basics allows for spontaneous styling, rather than trying to plan every outfit ahead of time.
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The spontaneous pregnancy was so rare that even some medical professionals struggled to explain its odds.
Adjective
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And an even bigger concern, Powers said, is the administration’s capricious approach to project permitting.
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Sabalenka and Shnaider had to navigate its more capricious cousin.
Adjective
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The sumptuous design extends throughout the property, from the dining room, adorned with Murano glass chandeliers and wall sconces, to the moody bar and lounge with its fine wood paneling and custom ironwork.
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For a moody, high-impact look, embrace the drama with rich hues like Little Greene’s Purple Brown or Lick’s Green 06.
Adjective
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The whimsical stone and iron structure features large arched windows, tall towers, elaborate metalwork, and raised walkways that offer scenic views of the surrounding San Isabel National Forest.
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Look out for the town's whimsical water tower, painted with rainbow stripes to evoke a hot air balloon, from the interstate (on Cove Road).
Cite this Entry
“Impulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulsive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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