Search Result for "impulsive": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (5)

1. proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus;
- Example: "an impulsive gesture of affection"
[syn: impulsive, unprompted]

2. without forethought;
- Example: "letting him borrow her car was an impulsive act that she immediately regretted"

3. having the power of driving or impelling;
- Example: "a driving personal ambition"
- Example: "the driving force was his innate enthusiasm"
- Example: "an impulsive force"
[syn: driving, impulsive]

4. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason;
- Example: "a capricious refusal"
- Example: "authoritarian rulers are frequently capricious"
- Example: "the victim of whimsical persecutions"
[syn: capricious, impulsive, whimsical]

5. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation;
- Example: "a hotheaded decision"
- Example: "liable to such impulsive acts as hugging strangers"
- Example: "an impetuous display of spending and gambling"
- Example: "madcap escapades" (`brainish'; is archaic);
[syn: hotheaded, impulsive, impetuous, madcap, tearaway(a), brainish]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Impulsive \Im*pul"sive\, a. [Cf. F. impulsif.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an
      impulse; moving; impellent.
      [1913 Webster]

            Poor men! poor papers! We and they
            Do some impulsive force obey.         --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings.
      [1913 Webster]

            My heart, impulsive and wayward.      --Longfellow.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Mech.) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous;
      -- said of forces.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Impulsive \Im*pul"sive\, n.
   That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
   --Sir W. Wotton.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

impulsive
    adj 1: proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without
           external stimulus; "an impulsive gesture of affection"
           [syn: impulsive, unprompted]
    2: without forethought; "letting him borrow her car was an
       impulsive act that she immediately regretted"
    3: having the power of driving or impelling; "a driving personal
       ambition"; "the driving force was his innate enthusiasm"; "an
       impulsive force" [syn: driving, impulsive]
    4: 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" [syn: capricious, impulsive, whimsical]
    5: characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or
       deliberation; "a hotheaded decision"; "liable to such
       impulsive acts as hugging strangers"; "an impetuous display
       of spending and gambling"; "madcap escapades"; (`brainish' is
       archaic) [syn: hotheaded, impulsive, impetuous,
       madcap, tearaway(a), brainish]