obsession

noun

ob·ses·sion äb-ˈse-shən

əb-

: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling

broadly : compelling motivation

an obsession with profits

has an obsession with gambling

: something that causes an obsession

Losing weight can be an obsession that results in the avoidance of certain foods.

obsessional

äb-ˈse-sh(ə-)nəl

əb-

adjective

obsessionally adverb

Example Sentences

He was fascinated by the actress and tracking her every move had become an obsession. She has an obsession about cleanliness. Her concern about cleanliness approaches the level of obsession. Money has become an obsession for him.

Recent Examples on the Web The green and gold turn up once in a while in the original series, chiefly through Red's obsession with the Pack during the not-so-great 1970s years. —

Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023 During a January 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show, Grint discussed his daughter's obsession with the chain store. —

Emily St. Martin, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2023 But there are also thousands of TikTok users who have begun to staunchly critique not only the victim blaming, but the app’s intense obsession with tragic cases like the Idaho murders. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2023 The Netanyahus and their backers say that the Israeli media has been nursing an obsession with the family that borders on persecution since the 1990s, during Mr. Netanyahu’s first term in office, when Ms. Netanyahu fired a nanny for burning soup. —

Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2023 Hamburger revealed how Casey’s obsession with packages and his fastidious ways had fuelled the company’s growth and shaped its culture. —

Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023 Could the hard-to-get vintage tee be replacing Kardashian’s obsession with one-of-a-kind archival designer pieces? —

Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2023 Not your typical documentary, the film provides a striking feeling of suspense that keeps an edge on each reveal, uncovering the depths of the architect’s obsession. —

Holly Jones, Variety, 6 Jan. 2023 Amid the public's obsession with true crime, people with no real-life involvement often feel entitled to the raw details of a personal tragedy. —

Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2023 See More

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