of, pertaining to, or characterized by sudden or rash action, emotion, etc.; impulsive: an impetuous decision; an impetuous person.
2.
having great impetus; moving with great force; violent: the impetuous winds.
Origin: 1350–1400; ME < AF < LL impetuōsus, equiv. to L impetu(s) impetus+ -ōsus-ous
Related forms:
im⋅pet⋅u⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
im⋅pet⋅u⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Synonyms: 1.eager, headlong. Impetuous,impulsive both refer to persons who are hasty and precipitate in action, or to actions not preceded by thought. Impetuous suggests eagerness, violence, rashness: impetuous vivacity; impetuous desire; impetuous words. Impulsive emphasizes spontaneity and lack of reflection: an impulsive act of generosity.
Characterized by sudden and forceful energy or emotion; impulsive and passionate.
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: These adjectives describe abruptness or lack of deliberation. Impetuous suggests forceful impulsiveness or impatience: "[a race driver who was] flamboyant, impetuous, disdainful of death" (Jim Murray). Heedless implies carelessness or lack of responsibility or proper regard for consequences: "Hobbling down stairs with heedless haste, I set my foot full in a pail of water" (Richard Steele). 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, struck his head against the door to the east veranda, and probably broken his neck" (Mary Roberts Rinehart). Precipitate suggests impulsiveness and lack of due reflection: a precipitate decision. Sudden applies to what becomes apparent abruptly or unexpectedly: is given to sudden paroxysms of anger.