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
These people are all very reactive and very impulsive.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
In Jay Kelly’s titular role, the Oscar winner does plenty of looking back during an impulsive train trip from France to Italy.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Bipolar disorder involves alternating episodes of depression and mania, a state where thoughts race, impulsive decisions feel logical, and sleep becomes almost optional.
—Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
These biases can lead to impulsive decisions like following trends, holding losing stocks too long, or ignoring cautionary advice.
—Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impulsive
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Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
In Jay Kelly’s titular role, the Oscar winner does plenty of looking back during an impulsive train trip from France to Italy.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Bipolar disorder involves alternating episodes of depression and mania, a state where thoughts race, impulsive decisions feel logical, and sleep becomes almost optional.
—Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
These biases can lead to impulsive decisions like following trends, holding losing stocks too long, or ignoring cautionary advice.
—Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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