What does impulsively mean?
Impulsively is an adverb meaning “without careful thought,” usually with the suggestion that someone acts suddenly in response to a feeling, urge, or momentary decision. It often carries a mildly critical or cautionary connotation: an impulsive purchase, impulsive remark, or impulsive reaction may lead to regret, although the word can also describe a quick, spontaneous response without necessarily implying a mistake. In everyday use, impulsively contrasts with deliberately, thoughtfully, or cautiously. It can describe personal behavior, emotional reactions, and actions by groups or systems, making it useful in journalism, literature, psychology, and ordinary conversation. The word is especially effective when the speed of the decision is important: the person or group moves before reflection can intervene. Its Latin ancestry, through impulsus, an “impulse” or “push,” reinforces the idea of an inward force prompting outward action.
adverbIn a sudden, unconsidered way, without thinking carefully before acting. It can also mean as a result of a sudden impulse.
- Without careful thought or consideration; suddenly and rashly.
"She impulsively accepted the invitation before considering the long journey."
"He impulsively replied to the message and regretted it moments later."
"The researchers impulsively abandoned the experiment when the first results were disappointing."
From Latin impulsus, meaning “a push,” impulsively captures the moment a thought gives way to action before caution can catch up.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How impulsively is actually used
Commonly used for actions that are sudden and considered rash, though it can be neutral when describing a deliberate response to an impulse. It is informal to literary in register and is used in both British and American English.