impulsive

Borrowed from Middle French impulsif, from Latin impulsivus.

• IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/

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impulsive (comparative more impulsive, superlative most impulsive)

1. Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.
   • 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC:

     Poor men! poor papers! We and they / Do some impulsive force obey.

2. Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.

   Synonyms: hasty, precipitant, rash

   • 1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, (please specify either |part=I or II):

     my heart, impulsive and wayward

   • 2025 April 28, Ross Douthat, Nick Adams, “Condition of America”, in New Left Review‎^[1], number 152, →ISSN:

     Americans are not libertarians in the Cato Institute sense of the word, but they are folk libertarians in this sense of impulsive behaviour, which is a feature of American life that anyone who wants to govern the United States, Democratic or Republican, has to be aware of.

3. (mechanics) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous – said of forces.

• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “impulsive”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “impulsive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

impulsive (plural impulsives)

1. That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
   • 1613, Henry Wotton, letter to Edmund Bacon:

     Notwithstanding all which Motives and impulsives , Sir Thomas Overbury refused to be sent abroad , with such terms

2. One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.

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impulsive

1. feminine singular of impulsif

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impulsive

1. inflection of impulsiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

impulsive f pl

1. feminine plural of impulsivo

impulsīve

1. vocative masculine singular of impulsīvus

impulsive

1. definite singular/plural of impulsiv

impulsive

1. definite singular/plural of impulsiv