as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compulsive
Dementia can also manifest as uncharacteristic-obsessive compulsive disorder or hoarding behavior, Cruz-Saavedra adds.
—
Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
An ex-trader explained that if bettors exhibited potential signs of compulsive gambling, such as frenetically emptying and refilling their account balance, the trader would check if RG wanted to reach out to make sure the customer was OK.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Doomscrolling, compulsive social media use that can feel exhausting, is a negative habit that many people actually do in an attempt to self soothe, explained psychotherapist Esin Pinarli, LCSW, MCAP.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Jan. 2026
In the past, Mia had suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive, distressing thoughts.
—Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
An ex-trader explained that if bettors exhibited potential signs of compulsive gambling, such as frenetically emptying and refilling their account balance, the trader would check if RG wanted to reach out to make sure the customer was OK.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Doomscrolling, compulsive social media use that can feel exhausting, is a negative habit that many people actually do in an attempt to self soothe, explained psychotherapist Esin Pinarli, LCSW, MCAP.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Jan. 2026
In the past, Mia had suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive, distressing thoughts.
—Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
-
How to stop limerence Of course, recognizing that an obsessive attachment is unhealthy usually isn’t enough to make strong feelings disappear.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
6 Feb. 2026
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Season 4 focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Intuition without reflection can become impulsive.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Midmonth, your dreams will demand discipline, but by late February, impatience will spark impulsive moves that could ripple through your finances and alliances.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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