impetuous
im·pet·u·ous
(ĭm-pĕch′o͞o-əs)adj.
1. Acting or done quickly with little or inadequate thought.
2. Having or marked by violent force: impetuous, heaving waves.
[Middle English, violent, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetuōsus, from Latin impetus, impetus; see impetus.]
im·pet′u·ous·ly adv.
im·pet′u·ous·ness n.
Synonyms: impetuous, hasty, headlong, precipitate
These adjectives describe abruptness or lack of deliberation. Impetuous suggests forceful impulsiveness or impatience: "[Martin Luther King] feared that an ill-prepared, impetuous demonstration would endanger ... the marchers" (Nick Kotz).
Hasty and headlong both stress hurried, often reckless action: "Hasty marriage seldom proveth well" (Shakespeare)."In his headlong flight down the circular staircase, ... [he] had pitched forward violently ... and probably broken his neck" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
Precipitate suggests impulsiveness and lack of due reflection: "All my mistakes in life had flowed from that precipitate departure of mine" (Philip Roth).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
impetuous
(ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs)adj
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.
[C14: from Late Latin impetuōsus violent; see impetus]
imˈpetuously adv
imˈpetuousness, impetuosity n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
im•pet•u•ous
(ɪmˈpɛtʃ u əs)adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or characterized by sudden or rash action or emotion.
2. moving with great force; violent: impetuous winds.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Late Latin impetuōsus= Latin impetu(s) impetus + -ōsus -ous]
im•pet′u•ous•ly, adv.
im•pet′u•ous•ness, n.
syn: impetuous, impulsive both refer to persons who are hasty and precipitate in action, or to actions not preceded by thought. impetuous suggests great energy, overeagerness, and impatience: an impetuous lover; impetuous words. impulsive emphasizes spontaneity and lack of reflection: an impulsive act of generosity.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | impetuous - characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation; "a hotheaded decision"; "liable to such impulsive acts as hugging strangers"; "an impetuous display of spending and gambling"; "madcap escapades"; (`brainish' is archaic) incautious - lacking in caution; "an incautious remark"; "incautious talk" |
| 2. | impetuous - marked by violent force; "impetuous heaving waves" forceful - characterized by or full of force or strength (often but not necessarily physical); "a forceful speaker"; "a forceful personality"; "forceful measures"; "a forceful plan for peace" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
impetuous
adjective rash, hasty, impulsive, violent, furious, fierce, eager, passionate, spontaneous, precipitate, ardent, impassioned, headlong, unplanned, unbridled, vehement, unrestrained, spur-of-the-moment, unthinking, unpremeditated, unreflecting He tended to act in a heated and impetuous way.
slow, cautious, wary, leisurely, mild
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
impetuous
adjectiveCharacterized by unthinking boldness and haste:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَهَوِّر، مُنْدَفِع
zbrklýprudkýunáhlený
impulsivoveriletubesindig
äkkinäinenharkitsematonkiihkeä
bráîur; ákafur
impulsīvsnesavaldīgsstraujš
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
impetuous
[ɪmˈpɛtʃuəs] adj → impétueux/euse
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
impetuous
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
impetuous
[ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs] adj → impetuoso/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
impetuous
(imˈpetjuəs) adjectiveacting in a hasty manner and without thinking.
imˈpetuously adverbimˌpetuˈosity (-ˈo-) nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
impetuous
a. impetuoso-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012