impulsive

/im'pʌlsiv/

Thân thiện

A child makes an impulsive purchase at a candy store.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Acting or done without forethought: Describes actions, decisions, or behaviors that are sudden and result from spontaneous urges or emotions rather than careful planning or consideration.
   • Driven by or resulting from a sudden inner urge: Characterizes a person or their actions as being motivated by immediate feelings or desires.
   • (Technical) Relating to or having the nature of an impulse: In physics or engineering, pertaining to a force that is applied suddenly and briefly.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a person's character:
  • She is an impulsive shopper, often buying things she doesn't need.
  • His impulsive nature sometimes gets him into trouble.
• Describing a specific action or decision:
  • Making such a large purchase was an impulsive decision.
  • He regretted his impulsive remark as soon as he said it.
• In a technical context:
  • The device measures the impulsive force of the impact.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Impulsive behavior": A pattern of acting on sudden desires without considering consequences, often discussed in psychology.
  • The therapist helped him manage his impulsive behavior.
• "On an impulse" / "On impulse": A common adverbial phrase related to being impulsive.
  • She bought the dress on impulse.

Variants and Related Words

• Impulsively (adverb): In an impulsive manner.
  • He acted impulsively.
• Impulsiveness (noun): The quality of being impulsive.
  • His impulsiveness is both a strength and a weakness.
• Impulse (noun): A sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act.
  • He felt an impulse to call her.

Synonyms

• Spontaneous: Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse without premeditation. (Often has a more positive connotation than ).
• Impetuous: Acting or done quickly and without thought or care. (Similar to but can imply rashness).
• Hasty: Done with excessive speed or urgency; hurried. (Emphasizes speed over thought).
• Capricious: Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. (Emphasizes unpredictability).

Antonyms

• Deliberate: Done consciously and intentionally.
• Cautious: Careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.
• Premeditated: Planned or considered beforehand.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Impulsive buying/spending": The act of making unplanned purchases.
  • Stores place candy near the checkout to encourage impulsive buying.
• While not a phrasal verb, the adjective is frequently used in the construction "to be impulsive" or "to act impulsively."

Học thuật

Adjective

1. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation; (`brainish' is archaic)
   • a hotheaded decision
   • liable to such impulsive acts as hugging strangers
   • an impetuous display of spending and gambling
   • madcap escapades
2. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
   • a capricious refusal
   • authoritarian rulers are frequently capricious
   • the victim of whimsical persecutions
3. having the power of driving or impelling
   • a driving personal ambition
   • the driving force was his innate enthusiasm
   • an impulsive force
4. without forethought
   • letting him borrow her car was an impulsive act that she immediately regretted
5. proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus
   • an impulsive gesture of affection

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hotheaded
• impetuous
• madcap
• tearaway
• brainish
• capricious
• whimsical
• driving
• unprompted