Word
impetuous
Phoneticsim·petu·ous, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpɛtʃwəs/
UK/ɪmpˈɛtʃuːəs/
Definition
adj. acting quickly without thinking about what will happen next. You do or say things in the moment and may regret them later.
adj. acting or done quickly without careful thought or consideration of consequences; marked by impulsive, forceful energy.
Examples
“He makes impetuous decisions without thinking first.”
“She made an impetuous promise to quit her job and travel, without saving any money first.”
“His impetuous defense of his friend, though loyal, damaged his credibility with colleagues who valued careful judgment.”
Examples
simple
“He makes impetuous decisions without thinking first.”
contextual
“She made an impetuous promise to quit her job and travel, without saving any money first.”
complex
“His impetuous defense of his friend, though loyal, damaged his credibility with colleagues who valued careful judgment.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “impetuous” in context.
Verb
01. consider impetuous
“Many voters considered the proposal impetuous and poorly thought through.”
verb + adj
02. dismiss as impetuous
“Critics dismissed his resignation as impetuous and emotionally driven.”
verb + prep + adj
03. impetuous by nature
“Impetuous by nature, she often volunteers before hearing the details.”
adj + prep + noun
04. prove impetuous
“Her first investment proved impetuous and she lost most of her savings.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. notoriously impetuous
“The notoriously impetuous striker was sent off again for a reckless tackle.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. impetuous decision
“Quitting his job was an impetuous decision he soon regretted.”
adj + noun
07. impetuous outburst
“His impetuous outburst during the meeting shocked his colleagues.”
adj + noun
08. impetuous temper
“You must learn to control your impetuous temper before leading a team.”
adj + noun
09. impetuous youth
“She recalled the passions and mistakes of her impetuous youth.”
adj + noun
10. act on an impetuous impulse
“He acted on an impetuous impulse and bought a one-way ticket to Peru.”
11. curb an impetuous temper
“To succeed in diplomacy, you must curb an impetuous temper.”
12. make an impetuous decision
“Don't make an impetuous decision you will regret in the morning.”
Real-World Examples
“It introduces him as an impetuous and unpredictable man who wasn’t afraid of confrontations.” “Chelsea were impetuous, on the receiving end of too many bookings for dissent and prone to collapsing at the first sign of trouble.” “For particularly impetuous teenagers, alcohol can create a vicious cycle of bad behaviour and delinquency.” Etymology
From Middle English impetuous, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetuōsus (“violent”), from Latin impetus (“attack, violence”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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