Meaning & use
impulsions
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“impulsions” is a form of “impulsion”.
Meanings
nounusually pluralformal
Strong inner urges that push a person to act, often without much thinking.
Grammar: It is usually plural in this sense: 'his impulsions' means the forces driving him. The singular 'impulsion' names one such urge.
Patterns
- impulsions to do something
- strong impulsions
- act on impulsions
She struggled to control the impulsions that made her spend money she did not have.
The novel shows a character torn between social duty and his own impulsions.
Psychologists study how early experiences shape a child's impulsions.
nouncountableformal
Forces or influences that drive a process or activity forward.
Grammar: Often used with words like 'main', 'economic' or 'creative' to name what pushes something on.
Patterns
- the main impulsion behind something
- economic impulsions
- provide an impulsion for something
Cheap credit was one of the main impulsions behind the housing boom.
The reforms gave a fresh impulsion to the region's economy.
Several impulsions, including new technology and changing tastes, reshaped the market.
Word forms
| singular | impulsion |
|---|
Common combinations
- strong impulsions
- He found it hard to resist strong impulsions to interrupt.
- control one's impulsions
- Young children slowly learn to control their impulsions.
- the main impulsion behind something
- Curiosity was the main impulsion behind her research.
- give an impulsion to something
- The new funding gave an impulsion to the project.
Synonyms and how they differ
- impulses
- Much more common and neutral; 'impulsions' sounds formal and is rare in speech.
- urges
- Focuses on a strong desire, often physical; 'impulsions' suggests a driving force rather than a wish.
- drives
- Used for lasting inner forces; 'impulsions' can be more momentary.
- stimuli
- Refers to outside triggers; 'impulsions' usually come from inside a person or process.
Opposites
Word family
- impulse noun
- A sudden strong urge to do something.
- impulsive adjective
- Acting quickly without thinking about results.
- impulsively adverb
- In a sudden way, without planning.
- impel verb
- To force or strongly encourage someone to act.
Commonly confused: impulsions or impulses? impulsions or compulsions?
impulsions vs impulses
The everyday plural of 'impulse'. 'Impulsions' is a rarer, more formal noun with a similar meaning.
impulsions vs compulsions
These are urges a person feels forced to obey, often against their will; impulsions are simply driving urges.
Practice
The historian described the ___ behind the revolution as a mix of hunger and new ideas.
Choose one answer.
'Impulsions' fits the formal tone and means driving forces behind a process. 'Compulsions' are irresistible personal urges, and 'expulsions' means forcing people out, which does not fit the context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “impulsions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.