Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Acting or done quickly with little or inadequate thought.
- adjective Having or marked by violent force.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having or characterized by great impetus; rushing with force and violence; acting with sudden, vehement, or rash energy; performed or delivered with sudden, overbearing force: as, an impetuous torrent; an impetuous charge or harangue.
- Synonyms Precipitate, hot, furious, vehement, passionate.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Rushing with force and violence; moving with impetus; furious; forcible; violent
- adjective Vehement in feeling; hasty; passionate; violent.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Making
arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner. - adjective Characterized by sudden and violent force.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
- adjective marked by violent force
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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It was used in short, impetuous outbursts on occasions of triumph or mourning.
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There had been a startled pause, just long enough for him to curse himself mentally but not for him to recall his impetuous words, before his mother had demanded in excitement, 'You mean there is?
The Demetrios Virgin Jordan, Penny 2001
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American directness and fairness called the impetuous Tschaplin before him and gave him so many hours in which to restore the rightful government to power.
The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki Campaigning in North Russia 1918-1919 Harry H. Mead
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Those who recall the impetuous abandon of the pre-war agriculturist may well ask whether Boloism has not been work at again.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, October 31, 1917 Various
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"The family has never been called impetuous," replied his mother.
The Crisis — Volume 01 Winston Churchill 1909
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"The family has never been called impetuous," replied his mother.
The Crisis — Complete Winston Churchill 1909
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"The family has never been called impetuous," replied his mother.
Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Winston Churchill Winston Churchill 1909
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But, on the other hand, he greatly marred his influence by what might be called impetuous intemperateness in his early press career.
Personal Recollections of Early Melbourne and Victoria William Westgarth 1852
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He has been widely described as impetuous and immature and Webber says the team must shortly decide who they will support for the drivers 'title.
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For, as much as Ronaldo can legitimately be called impetuous, a whiner, a baby, and an egomaniac, all of these titles ignore one simple fact:
gangerh commented on the word impetuous
Saying what you think without thinking.
February 14, 2008
dailyword commented on the word impetuous
One of the bad guys that they dealt with called Artie this.
September 23, 2012