1
as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
the new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tendencies
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
the universal, fundamental impulse of self-preservation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impulses
An uneasy balance The concentration of power around one figure sits uneasily with one of the founding impulses of the 1979 revolution that ushered in the Islamic Republic.
—
Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
What the Signals Could Be Doing Previous research has suggested that fungi conduct electrical impulses through hyphae — long, thread-like filaments or tubes — in a way similar to how nerve cells transmit information in humans.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Previous research established that fungi conduct electrical impulses through hyphae, long thread-like filaments that make up their structure.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
These structured habits—doing the same thing in the same place at the same time of day—were more likely to lead to long-term success than attempting to squelch counterproductive impulses in the moment.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
As a result, the franchise is caught between the competing impulses to preserve its legacy as a romantic ideal and to modernize itself for an audience that no longer believes in that mirage — resulting, most recently, in a casting that was doomed to fail on all fronts.
—Shamira Ibrahim, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
However, emotional impulses to act are not enough to justify war.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
But those impulses were, for the most part, confined to the fringes.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
In such cases, a regulator swayed by ideological impulses can do lasting damage.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
What the Signals Could Be Doing Previous research has suggested that fungi conduct electrical impulses through hyphae — long, thread-like filaments or tubes — in a way similar to how nerve cells transmit information in humans.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Previous research established that fungi conduct electrical impulses through hyphae, long thread-like filaments that make up their structure.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
These structured habits—doing the same thing in the same place at the same time of day—were more likely to lead to long-term success than attempting to squelch counterproductive impulses in the moment.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
As a result, the franchise is caught between the competing impulses to preserve its legacy as a romantic ideal and to modernize itself for an audience that no longer believes in that mirage — resulting, most recently, in a casting that was doomed to fail on all fronts.
—Shamira Ibrahim, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
However, emotional impulses to act are not enough to justify war.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
But those impulses were, for the most part, confined to the fringes.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
In such cases, a regulator swayed by ideological impulses can do lasting damage.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulses
Noun
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Some have looked to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s development arm for incentives.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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For brands, variable changes tied to product design and material choices could create financial incentives to reduce environmental impact.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Five patterns surfaced again and again—not as hard rules, but as common tendencies among people for whom reading is not a hobby so much as a way of moving through the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Genetics linked to a breed help shape common behavioral tendencies, though individual dogs may vary.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This is the standard for ramp inclinations that are usable for most people, especially wheelchair users.—
K. Desbouis,
Artforum,
6 Feb. 2026
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Trump’s inclinations to make every race about him could foul this for the GOP.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Luis Alvarado, a Republican political analyst, says that Bianco has political motivations of his own.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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The interior worlds of these women remain obscured and their motivations go unexplored.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
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More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The caveat is jurors and audiences at home are not allowed to vote for their own country; geopolitical affinities or rivalries often supersede talent.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Players have to create teams that exploit a boss’ weakness in order to defeat them, and that means building up characters that have the right elemental affinities.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These materials can change shape in response to external stimuli such as heat or electricity, offering more efficient and compact actuation.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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The go-for-broke concept, which includes a high-tech heist, a high-speed truck chase and a massive explosion of Cheetos dust, shows the levels to which marketers must ascend to capture consumer attention in media venues that constantly offer new stimuli.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulses. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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