addicted

adjective

ad·​dict·​ed ə-ˈdik-təd How to pronounce addicted (audio)
: having an addiction:
a
: exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity
addicted to heroin/alcohol/gambling
addicted smokers
b
: strongly inclined to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly
I'm addicted to great tomatoes, so I started two French varieties from seed and gave fully a third of my garden to them.Chris Jerome
Like Sherlock Holmes, Maigret is perceived by addicted readers as a historical figure rather than a creature of fiction …Mavis Gallant

Examples of addicted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As Warriors coach Steve Kerr said following Tuesday’s loss, there’s nothing like the highs of elite professional sports — anyone who has experienced them becomes addicted. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024 The bill also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping, such as banning the sale of cheap disposable vapes and restricting their flavors to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine. Sylvia Hui, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024 The bill also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping, such as banning the sale of cheap disposable vapes and limiting their flavors to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine. Sylvia Hui, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024 Victoria Atkins, the U.K.’s secretary of state for health and social care, told the House of Commons that the bill was intended to prevent people from ever getting addicted to tobacco products in the first place. Anna Gordon, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024 Laube became addicted to heroin and alcohol, which fueled a lengthy rap sheet that included driving under the influence, fighting in public, and carrying a switchblade. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024 Over the next several months, NBC News uncovered cases of six other men, many of them homeless, mentally ill or addicted to drugs, who had been buried in the pauper’s field while their families looked for them. Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024 Nicotine addiction and mental health Oftentimes, patients who are trying to quit tobacco instead get addicted to nicotine through vaping, sometimes even more so than with cigarettes, according to Christensen. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024 The fact is that opioids are misused, causing many to become addicted and dependent on the drugs. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'addicted.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of addict entry 2

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of addicted was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near addicted

Cite this Entry

“Addicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addicted. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!