obsessive

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adjective ob·ses·sive \ äb-ˈse-siv , əb- \

Definition of obsessive

1 a :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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obsessive

noun

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obsessively

adverb

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obsessiveness

noun

See obsessive defined for English-language learners

See obsessive defined for kids

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 of obsessive from the Web

Researchers also tried rTMS in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, tinnitus, and chronic pain.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Brain-altering magnetic pulses could zap cocaine addiction," 29 Aug. 2017
There are reasons for his re-entry, though that's getting ahead of the story, which uses a queasy crime as a jumping-off point to spin a largely sweet, often very funny fairy tale about the perils and the sustaining pleasures of obsessive fandom.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "'Brigsby Bear' movie review: A weird but wonderful bit of offbeat joy," 18 Aug. 2017
Since then, it has been largely replaced by more specific terminologies, like social-anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.

— cody delistraty, The Cut, "Being Neurotic May Help You Live Longer," 8 Aug. 2017
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
Normally an obsessive crank like Lenin would never have come to power, so here is a warning about the part that chance plays in human affairs.

— nr symposium, National Review, "It’s Summer, Time to Catch Up on Your Reading — A Symposium," 31 July 2017
During the next year, obsessive fans kept close watch on Harington’s whereabouts.

— travis m. andrews, sacbee, "The real battle in ‘Game of Thrones’: A constant fight against spoilers.," 17 July 2017
Post-war guilt may play a role as Germany’s cure for its past becomes nearly as obsessive as the behavior that led to the disease in the first place.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "Lord Ismay, NATO, and the Old-New World Order," 5 July 2017
Haylee, 21, is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

— daniel chang, miamiherald, "Medicaid cuts in health bill threaten mental health care for Floridians," 30 June 2017

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.

First Known Use of obsessive

1897

obsessive Synonyms

Synonyms

besetting, driven, impulsive, obsessional, compulsive

Related Words

irrepressible, uncontrollable; automatic, instinctive, involuntary, knee-jerk, reflex, spontaneous; conditioned, mechanical; unconscious, unthinking, unwitting; capricious, unpredictable, whimsical

Near Antonyms

unforced, voluntary, willful (or wilful); controllable, manageable, resistible

Other Psychology Terms

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

OBSESSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

obsessive

play

adjective

Definition of obsessive for English Language Learners

: thinking about something or someone too much or in a way that is not normal : having an obsession : showing or relating to an obsession

Medical Dictionary

obsessive

play

adjective ob·ses·sive \ äb-ˈses-iv, əb- \

medical Definition of obsessive

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

obsessive behavior

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obsessively

adverb

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obsessiveness

noun

obsessive

noun

medical Definition of obsessive

:an obsessive individual

Learn More about obsessive

See words that rhyme with obsessive Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obsessive Spanish Central: Translation of obsessive Nglish: Translation of obsessive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obsessive for Arabic speakers

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From the M-W Editors

Examples of obsessive in a Sentence

Recent Examples of obsessive from the Web

First Known Use of obsessive

obsessive Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

OBSESSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

obsessive

Definition of obsessive for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

obsessive

medical Definition of obsessive

obsessively

obsessiveness

obsessive

medical Definition of obsessive

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