compulsive

adjective com·pul·sive \ kəm-ˈpəl-siv \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: compulsive in a Sentence

Definition of compulsive

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

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compulsively

adverb

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compulsiveness

noun

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compulsivity

play \kəm-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē, ˌkäm-\ noun

See compulsive defined for English-language learners

See compulsive defined for kids

Examples of compulsive in a Sentence

his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying

Recent Examples of compulsive from the Web

Apple shareholders pulled the company into the center of that debate in February, when two groups of shareholders asked the company to introduce a mode on the iPhone that helps curb compulsive smartphone use, particularly among children.

— hayley tsukayama, latimes.com, "Apple WWDC 2018: Siri, health and augmented reality are expected topics," 4 June 2018
Dermatillomania falls within the umbrella category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

— laura dorwart, SELF, "How K Beauty Helps Me Manage My Skin-Picking Disorder," 14 May 2018
Photo: Frazer Harrison/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA. Obsessive-compulsive disorder isn’t just about the compulsive behaviors.

— meagan fredette, refinery29.com, "Shannon Purser Wants To Remind Everyone OCD Is About More Than Compulsions," 5 May 2018
These infants are not born with addiction, which experts consider a disease involving compulsive, harmful drug-seeking behavior.

— Time, "'It's a National Problem.' How Hospitals Are Treating Opioid Addiction's Youngest Sufferers," 14 Feb. 2018
They're designed to provoke compulsive reward-seeking behavior.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Op-ed: Game companies need to cut the crap—loot boxes are obviously gambling," 28 May 2018
On one side are the compulsive clearers, who can’t abide the banners and bubbles designed to prod us into maximum smartphone hygiene.

— katherine bindley, WSJ, "Those Red Alert Bubbles on Your Phone Are Driving Your Loved One Crazy," 25 May 2018
There’s no compulsive curation, meticulous editing, or veil of irony to consider—no vigilance required.

— lindsey lanquist, SELF, "Do Yourself a Favor and Follow My Best Friend’s Mom on Instagram," 25 May 2018
Sexuality tends to be more severely scrutinized that violence, and language is parsed with compulsive precision.

— New York Times, "Dystopia, Apocalypse, Culture War: 2018 or 1968?," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compulsive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compulsive

see compulsion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1588

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

compulsive Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

COMPULSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

compulsive

adjective

Definition of compulsive for English Language Learners

: caused by a desire that is too strong to resist : impossible to stop or control
: not able to stop or control doing something
: very interesting

Medical Dictionary

compulsive

adjective com·pul·sive \ -ˈpəl-siv \

medical Definition of compulsive

: of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession

repetitive and compulsive behavior

compulsive hoarding

a compulsive gambler

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compulsively

adverb

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compulsiveness

noun

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compulsivity

play \kəm-ˌpəl-ˈsiv-ət-ē, ˌkäm-\ noun, plural -ties

- Prozac, which increases the amount of serotonin sloshing around brain circuits, seems to reduce the compulsivity of autism.
- —Karen Springen, Newsweek, 13 May 1996