Impulsive vs. Spontaneous — What's the Difference?

Inclined to act on impulse rather than thought.

Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated

Motivated by or resulting from impulse

Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from forethought or prompting

Having force or power to impel or incite; forceful.

Unconstrained and unstudied in manner or behavior

(Physics) Acting within brief time intervals. Used especially of a force.

Growing without cultivation or human labor

Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.

Self-generated; happening without any apparent external cause.

Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.

Done by one's own free choice, or without planning.

(mechanics) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous – said of forces.

Proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external or conscious constraint.

That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.

Arising from a momentary impulse.

One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.

Controlled and directed internally; self-active; spontaneous movement characteristic of living things.

Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.

Produced without being planted or without human cultivation or labor.

Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings.

Sudden, without warning.

Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous; - said of forces.

Proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint; as, a spontaneous gift or proposition.

That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.

Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or natural law, without external force; as, spontaneous motion; spontaneous growth.

Proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus;

Produced without being planted, or without human labor; as, a spontaneous growth of wood.

Without forethought;

Happening or arising without apparent external cause;

Having the power of driving or impelling;

Said or done without having been planned or written in advance;

Determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason;

Produced without being planted or without human labor;

Characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation;