obsessive

adjective

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

But from the very start, the idea of original sin was caught up with a kind of obsessive interest in and hatred of human sexuality, which poisoned it to the core. — Sean Illing, Vox, "Why science can’t replace religion," 4 Nov. 2018 Still, Skaife is obsessive in his care of the birds, who are now celebrities, regardless of the misty myths. — William Booth, The Seattle Times, "The secrets of the royal ravenmaster at the Tower of London," 26 Oct. 2018 In fact, the show is almost obsessive in robbing her of meaningful agency. — Noah Berlatsky, The Verge, "Netflix’s Disenchantment suggests the messy future of princess stories," 22 Aug. 2018 There's no need to be obsessive about it, but an action as simple as arranging your cupboards so tins are facing frontwards go a long way in making your life easier. — Sophie Hines, House Beautiful, "6 Golden Rules for Decluttering Your Kitchen," 31 July 2017 Take, for example, her obsessive quest for the perfect couch. — Gayle Brandeis, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘The Bright Hour,’ by Nina Riggs and ‘The Art of Death,’ by Edwidge Danticat," 18 Jan. 2018 Without the pedigree of a successful playing career, the calling card for most professional soccer coaches, Osorio’s rise has been fueled by an obsessive quest to master the tactical aspects of the game. — Jonathan Mahler, New York Times, "He’s Got a Winning Record. So Why Do Mexican Fans Want the Coach Fired?," 17 June 2018 In an obsessive quest to keep classic wine flavors consistent, vineyards stopped natural crossbreeding. — Kevin Begos, Smithsonian, "The Quest to Grow the First Great American Wine Grape," 6 June 2018 On the other hand, more research has shown that people with neurotic or obsessive-compulsive traits tend to experience earworm songs more frequently, and the songs tend to stick around longer. — Markham Heid, Time, "You Asked: Why Do Certain Songs Get Stuck in Your Head?," 24 Jan. 2018

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.