addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv 

a-

: causing or characterized by addiction

an addictive drug

an addictive personality

Synonyms of addictive

• addicting

Examples of addictive in a Sentence

highly addictive drugs like crack and heroin

the addictive thrill of surfing

Recent Examples on the Web

But addictive devices and a daily barrage of brainrot can’t take all the blame. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 July 2026

Meanwhile, regular fans turned their love into sports betting, which has drawn ire from senators and critics for its addictive qualities and its house-favoring odds. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 20 June 2026

Nevertheless, laws that require social media companies to design their platforms in ways that are safe and not addictive for kids are likely to be more effective. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

The album, which features some of their songs in Spanish, is filled with addictive beats, earworm lyrics, and memorable hooks that blend hyper-pop, hip-hop, house, dance, and alternative pop with Latin beats. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

addict entry 2 + -ive

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for addictive

• constrictive
• predictive
• restrictive
• vindictive
• magnetostrictive

Kids Definition

addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv 

a-

: causing or characterized by addiction

an addictive drug

an addictive game

Medical Definition

addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv 

: causing or characterized by addiction

addictive drugs

Legal Definition

addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv 

: causing or characterized by addiction

addictive drugs