Easily Confused Words: Impetus and Impetuous
impetus ≠impetuous
Impetus is a stimulus, impulse, or force that moves something else to action.
Impetuous means impulsive, rash, characterized by sudden action.
Seeing the Vin Diesel classic “XXX” was the impetus behind my decision to skydive.
My decision to jump out of an airplane after seeing an actor do so in a movie was a bit impetuous.