different between furious vs impetuous

English

Etymology

From Old French furieus, from Latin furi?sus.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?fj??.???s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?fj??.i.?s/, /?fj?.i.?s/
• Hyphenation: fu?ri?ous
• Rhymes: -???i?s

Adjective

furious (comparative more furious, superlative most furious)

1. Feeling great anger; raging; violent.
2. Rushing with impetuosity; moving with violence.

Derived terms

• fast and furious
• furiousness
• overfurious

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English impetuous, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetu?sus (“violent”), from Latin impetus (“attack, violence”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /im?p?t?u?s/

Adjective

impetuous (comparative more impetuous, superlative most impetuous)

1. Making arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner.
   • 1880, John Weeks Moore, Complete Encyclopaedia of Music, "Beethoven, Louis Van":

     But it was natural, that the impetuous, restless young artist should incline more to excess of strength than of delicacy in his playing.

2. Characterized by sudden violence or vehemence.
   • 1794, Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, vol. II, chapter I:

     He stands, and views in the faint rays
     Far, far below, the torrent's rising surge,
     And listens to the wild impetuous roar

   • 1917 rev. 1925, Ezra Pound, "Canto I"

     Unsheathed the narrow sword,

     I sat to keep off the impetuous impotent dead ...

Synonyms

• impulsive
• hasty
• rash
• hotheaded

Derived terms

• impetuously
• impetuousness

Translations