impulse

noun

A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.

A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.

(physics) The integral of force over time.

verb

(transitive) To impel; to incite.

Roots

pellopuls- · Latin · drive, push

Synonyms for impulse

impulsionn impetusn urgev instinctn impulsivenessn compulsionn lustn incitationn

Synonyms & related words for impulse

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of impulse — including impulsion, impetus, urge, instinct, impulsiveness, compulsion. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to impulse

Explore words related to impulse — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include impels, pulsation, momentum, impulsive, impulsively, whim, pulse, impulsivity. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for impulse

Common synonyms for impulse include impulsion, impetus, urge, instinct, impulsiveness, compulsion, lust, incitation — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does impulse come from?

The word impulse breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root puls-, from Latin pello (“drive, push”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.