impulsive

/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈpəl-siv/ (ame, mw)

impulsive — adjective

  • impulsivepositive
  • more impulsivecomparative
  • most impulsivesuperlative

1. acting or deciding quickly, without first thinking about the possible results —

1.形容詞B2
釋義

acting or deciding quickly, without first thinking about the possible results — for example, buying something expensive on the spur of the moment, or sending an angry message before calming down.

例句

Ishaan made an impulsive decision to quit his job and travel around Asia.

impulsive decision to [infinitive]

Obi regretted his impulsive purchase of a sports car when he saw the monthly payments.

impulsive purchase of [item]

同義詞
  • spontaneous

    More positive than impulsive — suggests natural, enjoyable, unplanned behaviour without the sense of regret

  • hasty

    Focuses on doing something too quickly, often with the result that it is done badly; less about personality and more about the speed of a single action

  • rash

    Stronger negative tone than impulsive — emphasises that the action was dangerously or foolishly unwise, not just unplanned

  • impetuous

    More formal and literary than impulsive; suggests passionate, forceful, and quick action driven by emotion rather than mere lack of planning

反義詞
  • cautious

    Describes someone who thinks carefully before acting, the opposite of following sudden urges

  • deliberate

    Describes actions that are slow, careful, and intentional — the opposite of hasty or impulsive

  • restrained

    Describes someone who holds back their desires or urges, the opposite of acting on impulse

文法句型

impulsive + noun (decision / purchase / act / behaviour)

be + impulsive

用法筆記

Often used to describe decisions, purchases, or actions made quickly without planning. Can describe a single action ('an impulsive decision') or a person's general nature ('an impulsive person'). Carries a slightly negative or regretful tone — the speaker implies that acting without thought led or could lead to a poor result.

常見錯誤

❌She has an impulsive need to check her phone every two minutes.
✅She has a compulsive need to check her phone every two minutes.
💡'Compulsive' describes a repeated, driven urge (often related to anxiety), while 'impulsive' describes a single sudden unplanned action.
❌I made an impulsive plan to save money this year.
✅I made a sudden decision to save money, but I had actually thought about it for weeks.
💡An impulsive action happens without prior planning; if you spent time thinking about it beforehand, it is not impulsive.