1
Hasty decision
Act before considering consequences.
Example
An impetuous purchase exhausted the emergency fund.
impetuous
/ɪmˈpɛtʃuəs/ · im-PECH-oo-uhsadjective
Acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
Use impetuous when the context supports this precise meaning: acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
What impetuous Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Sudden action
Move quickly under strong emotion.
Example
His impetuous resignation surprised the entire team.
3
Forceful momentum
Advance with uncontrolled speed or energy.
Example
The river’s impetuous current swept away the marker.
Use impetuous Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
An impetuous purchase exhausted the emergency fund.
His impetuous resignation surprised the entire team.
The river’s impetuous current swept away the marker.
Precision Matters
Impetuous overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
impetuous
vs.Means acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
abrupt
Means sudden and unexpected; or brief in a way that seems unfriendly.
impetuous
vs.Means acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
pragmatic
Means dealing with problems sensibly and realistically.
impetuous
vs.Means acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
deliberate
Means done consciously and with careful thought.
impetuous
vs.Means acting suddenly and forcefully without sufficient thought.
capricious
Means given to sudden, unpredictable changes in mood, behaviour, or decision.
Test impetuous in Context
The decision is sudden and taken without adequate thought.
1
Without reading the contract, he made the ___ decision to sign it immediately.