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: headlong, eager
   Antonyms: careful, planned

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

Other Word Forms

• impetuously adverb
• impetuousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impetuous¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin impetuōsus, equivalent to Latin impetu(s) “an attack” + -ōsus adjective suffix; impetus, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of impetuous¹

C14: from Late Latin impetuōsus violent; see _impetus

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.

Example Sentences

Meaning was found in Siegfried’s impetuous leap and the Black Swan’s studied 32 fouettés.

From Los Angeles Times

Henry will come to regret it, of course, but he is an impetuous and paranoid narcissist, with little sense of history and even less vision.

From Los Angeles Times

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 Los Angeles Times

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 Los Angeles Times

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 Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ardent 
• impulsive