impulsiveness
Acting without thinking
Impulsiveness is the tendency to act on sudden urges without thinking through consequences.
Someone with impulsiveness might blurt out comments, make spontaneous purchases, or quit a job on a whim.
The trait exists on a spectrum—a little impulsiveness can make someone fun and spontaneous, while extreme impulsiveness may signal poor self-control or conditions like ADHD.
His impulsiveness got him into trouble more than once.
Hasty, unthinking action
- rashnessImprudent haste in action
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- restlessnessState of unease
- excitabilityProneness to strong reactions
quick-tempered · spontaneity · adventurousness · boldness · audacity · daring · thrill-seeking · unrestrained
Headlong and reckless
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- headlongHastily and recklessly
- snapSudden sharp sound
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
knee-jerk · rushed · hurried · premature · overhasty · ill-considered · ill-advised · unthinking
Sudden arbitrary desire
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
intuitive · offhand · extemporaneous · ad-lib · freestyle · unrehearsed · unscripted · spur-of-the-moment
Recklessly bold
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
- heedlessCareless of consequences
incautious · imprudent · thoughtless · brash · daredevil · devil-may-care · madcap · hotheaded
Subject to sudden changes
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
unpredictable · temperamental · changeable · unstable · whimsical · moody · inconsistent · fitful
Reduced behavioral restraint
- hyperactivityExcessive physical or mental energy
- ADHDNeurodevelopmental focus impairment
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- compulsivityDriven to repeat actions
lability · risk-taking · self-regulation · dopamine · gratification · addiction · binge
impetuosity
Hasty, unthinking action
- rashnessImprudent haste in action
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- restlessnessState of unease
excitability · quick-tempered · spontaneity · adventurousness · boldness · audacity · daring · thrill-seeking · unrestrained · unbridled
precipitate
Headlong and reckless
spur-of-the-moment · knee-jerk · rushed · hurried · premature · overhasty · ill-considered · ill-advised · unthinking · unconsidered
whim
Sudden arbitrary desire
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
instinctive · intuitive · offhand · extemporaneous · ad-lib · freestyle · unrehearsed · unscripted · spur-of-the-moment · natural
foolhardy
Recklessly bold
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
heedless · incautious · imprudent · thoughtless · brash · daredevil · devil-may-care · madcap · hotheaded · wild
capricious
Subject to sudden changes
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- volatileLiable to sudden change
fickle · unpredictable · temperamental · changeable · unstable · whimsical · moody · inconsistent · fitful · variable
disinhibition
Reduced behavioral restraint
- hyperactivityExcessive physical or mental energy
- ADHDNeurodevelopmental focus impairment
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
compulsivity · lability · risk-taking · self-regulation · dopamine · gratification · addiction · binge
- adolescencepuberty, teenager, coming-of-age, growing up, teen
- childhood behaviorsgiggling, skipping, tantrums, whining, pouting
- hastinesshaste, hurry, rush, rashness, precipitance
- human flawsmistake, error, flaw, fault, failing
- impulsivityrashness, recklessness, hastiness, impetuosity, snap decision
- recklessnessrecklessness, carelessness, negligence, rashness, foolhardiness
impulsivenessdeliberation
Careful weighing of choices
thoughtfulness · prudence · forethought · circumspection · consideration
impulsivenesssteadiness
State of being constant
steadfastness · constancy · stability · self-control · self-discipline
impulsivenesscaution
Careful attention to risk
cautiousness · prudence · wariness · care · carefulness
impulse, impulsive, impel, compulsory, compulsion, compulsive, impulsively, impulses, impulsion