OCD
abbreviation or noun
: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder
The subjects of the experiment were 18 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—unwanted and pointless but irresistible intrusive thoughts (e.g., fear of contamination by germs) and repetitive actions (e.g., handwashing or change-counting).—
The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter
The Harvard Medical School Mental Health LetterOCD is a mental health condition that "involves both obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities, such as school, family life, extracurricular activities, developing friendships, and self-care," according to the International OCD Foundation.—Sarah D. Collins
Sarah D. CollinsExamples of OCD in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The study marks the most comprehensive understanding of OCD yet, comparing DNA from 53,660 people with OCD to over 2 million people without it.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
An estimated 1 to 3 percent of the world’s population experiences some form of OCD.
—Frieda Klotz, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Defense experts could weigh in on his OCD causing sleep difficulties that led to that penchant for night drives to decompress.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
In some cases, perfectionist behaviors can be symptoms of an anxiety disorder, depression, and/or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025
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Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
An estimated 1 to 3 percent of the world’s population experiences some form of OCD.
—Frieda Klotz, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Defense experts could weigh in on his OCD causing sleep difficulties that led to that penchant for night drives to decompress.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
In some cases, perfectionist behaviors can be symptoms of an anxiety disorder, depression, and/or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for OCD
Cite this Entry
“OCD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/OCD. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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OCD
abbreviation or noun
: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder
Childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorders are sometimes seen in dermatology practice. When present, OCD is most frequently manifested in younger patients as trichotillomania …—J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology
J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology… drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn. More effective is behavioral therapy, which has a cure rate of up to 80 percent.—Josie Glausiusz, Discover
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