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View synonyms for

impetuous

[ im-pech-oo-uhs ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by sudden or rash action, emotion, etc.; impulsive:

    an impetuous decision; an impetuous person.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms: ,

  2. having great impetus; moving with great force; violent:

    the impetuous winds.



impetuous

/ ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs; ɪmˌpɛtjʊˈɒsɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. liable to act without consideration; rash; impulsive
  2. resulting from or characterized by rashness or haste
  3. poetic.
    moving with great force or violence; rushing

    the impetuous stream hurtled down the valley

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٳܴdzܲ, adverb
  • ˈٳܴdzܲԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·u·dzܲ· adverb
  • ·u·dzܲ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of impetuous1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin ٳōܲ, equivalent to Latin impetu(s) “an attack” + -ōܲ adjective suffix; impetus, -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of impetuous1

C14: from Late Latin ٳōܲ violent; see impetus
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Synonym Study

Impetuous, impulsive both refer to persons who are hasty and precipitate in action, or to actions not preceded by thought. Impetuous suggests eagerness, violence, rashness: impetuous vivacity; impetuous desire; impetuous words. Impulsive emphasizes spontaneity and lack of reflection: an impulsive act of generosity.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Turns out the impetuous billionaire had gratuitously insulted Kelly after the senator had posted a long thread on X about his recent trip to Ukraine.

From

Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don’t want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump.

From

Worse, from a political standpoint, the off-color episode raised doubts about Boebert’s judgment and impetuous nature, and badly undermined her image as a family-minded conservative and devout Christian.

From

The club identifies, correctly, as a titan, and — under Pérez’s stewardship, in particular — it has taken great pride in living the values associated with the classical definition of that term: impetuous, impulsive, irascible.

From

Washington’s offense was impetuous and its defense impregnable, to steal from the classic Mike Tyson riff.

From

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impetuosityimpetus