Synonym Chooser

How does the noun impulse contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impulse are goad, incentive, inducement, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

In what contexts can goad take the place of impulse?

In some situations, the words goad and impulse are roughly equivalent. However, goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

Where would incentive be a reasonable alternative to impulse?

The words incentive and impulse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When would inducement be a good substitute for impulse?

The words inducement and impulse can be used in similar contexts, but inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

When can motive be used instead of impulse?

The meanings of motive and impulse largely overlap; however, motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When is spur a more appropriate choice than impulse?

Although the words spur and impulse have much in common, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impulse As the moon and Chiron harmonize, acting on your impulses is healing. USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025 What their legend truly shows is just how badly the American public wanted to crown a hero who stood up to the establishment on its behalf—an impulse that persists, dangerously, to this day. Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025 This impulse is amplified by the decentralized American system—especially its free media and raucous Congress—which empowers voices, including those of diaspora populations, businesses, human rights organizations, and the national security bureaucracy, to advocate for various actions overseas. Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025 If that isn’t enough plot, the lives of these characters become even more chaotic, violent, and ultimately tragic thanks to Emilia’s uncontrolled and selfish impulses. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for impulse 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impulse
Noun
  • From tax credits and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers to incentives for builders to invest in new construction, these positive proposals would have positively affected this vexing problem.
    David Byrd, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Fram Energy’s approach not only democratizes access to clean energy but also aligns financial incentives across stakeholders.
    Christer Holloman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • While the natural inclination may be to retreat into silos, to focus on what is within our immediate control, or to compete for limited resources, the challenges of the Intelligent Age cannot be solved in isolation.
    Klaus Schwab, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
  • But Evans argues that, to the contrary, few Germans truly shared such inclinations.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Michelle says that while the impending inauguration may have been the impetus behind the event, the celebration was so much more than its context.
    Oliver Haug, Them, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Governments and industry must partner to create a stronger impetus for the global diffusion of environmental technologies that can help tackle air pollution, waste management, water supply and sanitation, energy storage and distribution, and land and water protection.
    Saadia Zahidi, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • There is an uncomfortable tendency in tennis to give male coaching teams the credit for their player’s success.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • So while the outcry over the severity of McDavid’s suspension may seem excessive to hockey fans outside Oil Country, the numbers suggest that the faithful do have a legitimate grievance about the officials’ tendency to look the other way.
    Carol Schram, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • By Emily Tannenbaum More people than not had words of encouragement or solidarity, and even those who didn’t have time to stop and speak with me told me to stay safe or keep well and wished me luck.
    Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Coupled with a friend’s encouragement, Carrie established CompassionCare Concierge to share her talents with her community.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The combination of IoT and AI enables connected devices to collect, analyze and act on data in real-time.
    Rahul Saluja, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Just in time for Christmas, certain members of Congress are hard at work in their policy shops, fashioning a massive lump of cybersecurity coal with which to gift American users of electronic devices.
    David Williams, National Review, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Since September, the Chinese government has unveiled stimulus measures such as monetary policy easing policies and plans to counteract the property market’s decline.
    Sofia Celeste, WWD, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Lastly, coupled with all else that is afoot in the wider market are some traders' hopes of an uptick in near-term crude demand from China as the market keenly awaits what further economic stimulus measures are taken by Beijing in the first quarter of the year.
    Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Louis Jourdan, Count Dracula (1977) This BBC TV movie is a faithful adaptation of the book, and Jourdan plays a Dracula who teems with ghoulish sophistication as a refined intellectual with an aptitude for language and etymology.
    Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Similarly, Remy’s middle-class upbringing doesn’t account for his own aptitude, which isn’t dissimilar from Ayden’s, even if Ayden is further along with his welding skills.
    Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near impulse

Cite this Entry

“Impulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impulse. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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