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Impulsive vs Voluntary - What's the difference?

impulsive | voluntary |

As adjectives the difference between impulsive and voluntary

is that impulsive is having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent while voluntary is done, given, or acting of one's own free will.

As nouns the difference between impulsive and voluntary

is that impulsive is that which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent while voluntary is (music) a short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.

As an adverb voluntary is

(obsolete) voluntarily.

impulsive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.
  • * Prior
    • Poor men! poor papers! We and they / Do some impulsive force obey.
  • Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.
  • * Longfellow
    • my heart, impulsive and wayward
  • (mechanics) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous – said of forces.

    • Related terms

    * impulse * impulsion * impulsively * impulsiveness * impulsor

    References

    * *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
  • One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.
    • ----

    voluntary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
  • * N. W. Taylor
    • That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • She fell to lust a voluntary prey.
  • Done by design or intention; intentional.
    • If a man accidentally kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter.
  • Working or done without payment.
  • Endowed with the power of willing.
  • * Hooker
    • God did not work as a necessary, but a voluntary , agent, intending beforehand, and decreeing with himself, that which did outwardly proceed from him.
  • Of or relating to voluntaryism.
    • a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church

    Synonyms

    * discretionary * optional * willful * volitional

    Antonyms

    * compulsory * involuntary * obligatory

    Derived terms

    * voluntarily

    Related terms

    * volition * voluntarism * voluntarist * volunteer * will

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Voluntarily.
  • *1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.4:
  • *:And all that els was pretious and deare, / The sea unto him voluntary brings [...].

    • Noun

    (voluntaries)
  • (music) A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument
  • A volunteer