compulsive
adjective
com·pul·sive
kəm-ˈpəl-siv 
1
: having power to compel
forced to resort to compulsive measures
2
: of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession
compulsive actions
a compulsive gambler
compulsive eating
Examples of compulsive in a Sentence
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Recent Examples on the Web
How did this suave butcher, a compulsive liar who lived multiple lives, come to occupy such an exalted place in the medical field?
—
Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
Since the late 2000s, the naked ambition that characterized her early work has persisted in ways that accentuate certain elements of cringe: compulsive dabbling in rap and EDM which could, at best, be read as camp, usually reviewed with a sense of grim duty, if not outright pity.
—Meaghan Garvey, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2023
That document outlined scientific evidence behind cigarettes’ addictive nature, including their psychoactive effects and potential to trigger compulsive use.
—Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2023
Technology has raised the stakes for those with compulsive habits.
—David A. Lieb, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023
This ignored his own tendency to compulsive spending—a habit that included, among many other things, an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, during the time the company was in trouble, in Modulo Capital, an Alameda competitor run by another former flame.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2023
Keep your crabby comments and compulsive shopping on the down-low — at least for those 10 days.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 20 Oct. 2023
And Wes Anderson is a filmmaker who — judging by the overly meticulous mise-en-scène, the highly mannered methods of his storytelling, the obsessive curating and compulsive footnoting of onscreen bric-a-brac — seems to love the structure that comes with obeying unwritten rules.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2023
Why Do Dogs Lick Excessively? While licking is generally a harmless, endearing and sometimes useful behavior, excessive or compulsive licking can be a red flag for underlying issues.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2023
See More
Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
Since the late 2000s, the naked ambition that characterized her early work has persisted in ways that accentuate certain elements of cringe: compulsive dabbling in rap and EDM which could, at best, be read as camp, usually reviewed with a sense of grim duty, if not outright pity.
—Meaghan Garvey, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2023
That document outlined scientific evidence behind cigarettes’ addictive nature, including their psychoactive effects and potential to trigger compulsive use.
—Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2023
Technology has raised the stakes for those with compulsive habits.
—David A. Lieb, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023
This ignored his own tendency to compulsive spending—a habit that included, among many other things, an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, during the time the company was in trouble, in Modulo Capital, an Alameda competitor run by another former flame.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2023
Keep your crabby comments and compulsive shopping on the down-low — at least for those 10 days.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 20 Oct. 2023
And Wes Anderson is a filmmaker who — judging by the overly meticulous mise-en-scène, the highly mannered methods of his storytelling, the obsessive curating and compulsive footnoting of onscreen bric-a-brac — seems to love the structure that comes with obeying unwritten rules.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2023
Why Do Dogs Lick Excessively? While licking is generally a harmless, endearing and sometimes useful behavior, excessive or compulsive licking can be a red flag for underlying issues.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing compulsive
Dictionary Entries Near compulsive
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compulsive. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
compulsive
adjective
com·pul·sive
kəm-ˈpəl-siv
: caused by or subject to an irresistible urge
compulsive behavior
compulsively
adverb
Medical Definition
compulsive
1 of 2 adjective
com·pul·sive
-ˈpəl-siv
: of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession
repetitive and compulsive behavior
compulsive hoarding
a compulsive gambler
compulsively
adverb
compulsiveness
noun
compulsivity
noun
plural compulsivities
Prozac, which increases the amount of serotonin sloshing around brain circuits, seems to reduce the compulsivity of autism.
—Karen Springen, Newsweek
Karen Springen, Newsweek
compulsive
2 of 2 noun
: one who is subject to a psychological compulsion
More from Merriam-Webster on compulsive
Nglish: Translation of compulsive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of compulsive for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share