impulsive
/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/adjective, noun
impulsive is spelled I-M-P-U-L-S-I-V-E: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 20,356th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, impulsive means “Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in impulsive?
| Letters | 9: I-M-P-U-L-S-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.9 times per million words; the 20,356th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is impulsive?
Impulsive appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 20,356th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce impulsive?
- /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/
Impulsive has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-impulsive.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of impulsive
- more impulsive comparative
- most impulsive superlative
- impulsives plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does impulsive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.
- 2
Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.
- 3
Of a force, acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous.
noun
- 1
That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
- 2
One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Impulsive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | impulsif |
| Portuguese | impulsivo, impelente, impulsor |
| Spanish | impulsivo |
| German | impulsiv |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does impulsive come from?
Borrowed from Middle French impulsif, from Latin impulsivus.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).