impulsive
Without thinking first
Impulsive describes acting on sudden urges without thinking through consequences.
An impulsive person makes snap decisions—quitting a job, buying a car, sending an angry text—before considering whether it's wise.
The word carries a note of recklessness: It was an impulsive purchase I immediately regretted.
Impulsive can also describe the urges themselves: an impulsive need to confess.
Headlong and reckless
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- brashOffensively self-assertive
- headlongHastily and recklessly
foolhardy · ill-considered · unthinking · imprudent · incautious · overhasty · injudicious · heedless
Digestive tract, or instinct
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- primalFirst in origin
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
automatic · innate · subconscious · instinctual · unthinking · hardwired · involuntary · reactive
Not arranged beforehand
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
offhand · unrehearsed · snap · sudden · whim · last-minute · unscripted · ad-lib
Subject to sudden changes
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
unpredictable · flighty · volatile · moody · inconstant · wayward · restless · temperamental
Intensely emotional or enthusiastic
- excitableEasily aroused emotionally
- fieryIntensely hot or passionate
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- hot-bloodedEasily aroused emotionally
hot-tempered · quick-tempered · reactive · overwrought · unrestrained · fervent · intense · tempestuous
precipitate
Headlong and reckless
headlong · foolhardy · ill-considered · unthinking · imprudent · incautious · overhasty · injudicious · heedless · careless
gut
Digestive tract, or instinct
intuitive · automatic · innate · subconscious · instinctual · unthinking · hardwired · involuntary · reactive · split-second
unplanned
Not arranged beforehand
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
extemporaneous · offhand · unrehearsed · snap · sudden · whim · last-minute · unscripted · ad-lib · freewheeling
capricious
Subject to sudden changes
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
erratic · unpredictable · flighty · volatile · moody · inconstant · wayward · restless · temperamental · fanciful
passionate
Intensely emotional or enthusiastic
hot-blooded · hot-tempered · quick-tempered · reactive · overwrought · unrestrained · fervent · intense · tempestuous · explosive
- thoughtlessthoughtless, unthinking, mindless, unreflective, unconsidered
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- personalitiesintrovert, optimist, extrovert, pessimist, idealist
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- recklessreckless, careless, rash, heedless, imprudent
impulsivedeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
premeditated · calculated · planned · thoughtful · considered
impulsiverestrained
Held under control
controlled · disciplined · self-controlled · composed · temperate
- impulsive behaviorActions taken without forethought
- impulsive speechSpeaking without forethought