Impetuous

Acting or moving quickly and without thought or care; done on impulse.

adjective

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Imagine This

The little boy, before petting the hamster, saw the sign next to the cage, 'Do not pet us!' and he made an impulsive move to retreat his hand.

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Sounds Like

im-PET-yoo-uhs

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Looks Like

Impetuous - looks like the base word 'impetus' plus the suffix '-ous'

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Remember This

Impetuous describes actions driven by impulse rather than careful thought; it is related to impulse and haste but carries a sense of recklessness or boldness.

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Other Forms

Impetuositynoun

Impetuouslyadverb

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Connect With

Impulse, haste, rashness, impulsive, reckless, spontaneous

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Note

Impetuous implies acting without careful consideration; in formal contexts you might choose 'impulsive' or 'rash' depending on nuance. The noun form is 'impetuosity'; the adverb form is 'impetuously'.

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Study Deeper

Examples

Her impetuous decision to quit her job astonished everyone.
The driver's impetuous speeding through the narrow street led to a dangerous accident.

Synonyms

impulsiverashrecklesshastyimprudent

Antonyms

deliberateprudentcautious

Etymology

From Latin impetuosus meaning 'full of impulse or attack,' from impetus 'a force, impulse' with the suffix -ous.

Mnemonic

ImPETUous: PET is inside the word, reminding you that an impetuous person often acts on impulse, like grabbing a pet without thinking.

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Conclusive

adjective

Serving to settle or decide something beyond doubt; decisive and convincing.

Benediction

noun

A blessing or good wishes spoken aloud, especially at the end of a religious service.

Garbled

adjective

Distorted or unclear, especially a statement or text whose intended meaning has been corrupted or obscured.

Similar Words

Related words and words with the same part of speech.

Impulsive

adjective

Acting or done on impulse; driven by sudden desires or feelings without careful thought or consideration of consequences.

Spontaneous

adjective

Produced by a sudden inner impulse or without premeditation; happening naturally and unplanned; arising from within rather than being forced from without.