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Compulsive vs Impulse - What's the difference?

compulsive | impulse |

As nouns the difference between compulsive and impulse

is that compulsive is one who exhibits compulsive behaviours while impulse is .

As an adjective compulsive

is uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious.

compulsive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
  • * 1990 , :
    • Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not include—...(2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or...
  • Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
  • * Sharp
    • Religion is inconsistent with all compulsive motives.

    Related terms

    * compel * compulsion * compulsory

    Derived terms

    * compulsiveness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

    • External links

    * * * ----

    impulse

    English

    (wikipedia impulse)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
  • * S. Clarke
    • All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse .
  • A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.
    • The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day.
    When I saw the new dictionary, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.
  • * Dryden
    • These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
    • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=20 citation , passage=Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse , but it may have been a momentary one,
  • (physics) The integral of force over time.
    • The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the bullet.

    Derived terms

    * impulse buy * nerve impulse * on impulse

    Related terms

    * impel * impulsion * impulsive * impulsively * impulsiveness * impulsor * pulse

    References

    * * * [ impulse in the Online Etymology Dictionary]

    Verb

    (impuls)
  • (obsolete) To impel; to incite.
    • (Alexander Pope)
    ----