Impetuous
Acting or moving quickly and without thought or care; done on impulse.
adjectiveImpetuous
Acting or moving quickly and without thought or care; done on impulse.
adjectiveImagine 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.
Sounds Like
im-PET-yoo-uhs
Looks Like
Impetuous - looks like the base word 'impetus' plus the suffix '-ous'
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.
Other Forms
Connect With
Impulse, haste, rashness, impulsive, reckless, spontaneous
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'.
Study Deeper
- Her impetuous decision to quit her job astonished everyone.
- The driver's impetuous speeding through the narrow street led to a dangerous accident.
From Latin impetuosus meaning 'full of impulse or attack,' from impetus 'a force, impulse' with the suffix -ous.
ImPETUous: PET is inside the word, reminding you that an impetuous person often acts on impulse, like grabbing a pet without thinking.
Next Word
Continue in alphabetical order.
Try a Random Word
Pick any word below to jump in.
Conclusive
adjectiveServing to settle or decide something beyond doubt; decisive and convincing.
Benediction
nounA blessing or good wishes spoken aloud, especially at the end of a religious service.
Garbled
adjectiveDistorted 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
adjectiveActing or done on impulse; driven by sudden desires or feelings without careful thought or consideration of consequences.
Spontaneous
adjectiveProduced by a sudden inner impulse or without premeditation; happening naturally and unplanned; arising from within rather than being forced from without.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.