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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Deeply troubled parents spoke to senators Tuesday, sounding alarms about chatbot harms after kids became addicted to companion bots that encouraged self-harm, suicide, and violence. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025 Some people become addicted to the substance and take too much. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025 Reports say Edwards and his wife became addicted to drugs and were arrested multiple times. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025 An additional concern about vaping is the emergence of a new generation that has become addicted to nicotine without the use of cigarettes. Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for addicted

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

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Cite this Entry

“Addicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addicted. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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