obsessive

adjective

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ob·ses·sive | \ äb-ˈse-siv

, əb- \

Definition of obsessive

1a : tending to cause obsession

b : excessive often to an unreasonable degree

2 : of, relating to, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession

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Examples of obsessive in a Sentence

Many dancers are obsessive about their weight. He is an obsessive workaholic who never stops thinking about his job. an obsessive interest in space travel The new therapy is supposed to help people control their obsessive thoughts.

Recent Examples on the Web Prayers were plentiful, as were obsessive internet searches for updates on Hagans’ condition. — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky basketball's Ashton Hagans can be a headache, but he's worth the hassle," 11 Jan. 2020 Atsushi Nishijima—Amazon Studios The Report (now in theaters and on Amazon Prime) also tracks one man's near-obsessive quest for truth, this time in the person of Dan Jones (Adam Driver). — Hugh Hart, Fortune, "Whistleblower Cinema Is Back in a Big Way," 16 Dec. 2019 Wolfe is almost pathologically obsessive in his pursuits, and the only thing that keeps him from being exhausting in his quest for perfection is his penchant for flair and style. — Jef Rouner, Houston Chronicle, "Dexter author Lindsay offers a new scoundrel in "Just Watch Me"," 3 Dec. 2019 Over the years, it’s hammered into me a near-obsessive appreciation for the virtue of being prepared. — Marc Randolph, Quartz, "Netflix co-founder: Luck isn’t about chance—it’s about preparation," 11 Sep. 2019 The art is frequently of an obsessive, religious nature with a use of unorthodox materials. — Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland.com, "Private folk art museum opens in Medina County," 21 Aug. 2019 In the beginning, Mr. Chang’s persona — brash, self-critical and obsessive, with an impish sense of humor — loomed large in the company’s culture. — Elizabeth G. Dunn, New York Times, "Momofuku’s Secret Sauce: A 30-Year-Old C.E.O.," 16 Aug. 2019 My thoughts were circular and obsessive, and focusing on work was next to impossible. — Leigh Weingus, Glamour, "We Need To Start Talking About This Common—And Debilitating—Pregnancy Symptom," 12 July 2019 My obsessive interest in interiors and passion for fashion was also sorely outmatched by a complete lack of home-improvement experience—a liability in renovating 7,000 square feet of historic architecture. — Joyann King, ELLE Decor, "Country But Make It Fashion! Inside Joyann King’s Chic Millbrook Estate," 12 Aug. 2019

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

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